Nelson Mandela – South African statesman of the 20th century, author of Long Walk to Freedom and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Imprisoned for 27 years for resisting apartheid, he later became the nation’s first Black president. His legacy embodies reconciliation, dignity, and unyielding belief in freedom.
👶 Born Rolihlahla, a Xhosa name meaning “troublemaker.” 🎓 Studied law and became one of Johannesburg’s first Black attorneys. 📚 His autobiography Long Walk to Freedom became a global bestseller. ⚖️ Founded the first Black law firm in South Africa to defend human rights. 🏉 In 1995, used the Rugby World Cup as a tool for national unity. 🕊️ Shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Frederik de Klerk in 1993. 📺 His 1990 prison release was broadcast worldwide, watched by millions. 🌍 After his presidency, he focused on charity and education through the Mandela Foundation. 🎤 His speeches combined simplicity with moral force, resonating globally. 💎 On Robben Island, he endured years of crushing stones, yet grew stronger. 😄 Once joked that the hardest part of prison was not 27 years behind bars but “one night in a cold bed without a blanket.”