Nelson Rohilla Mandela (born 18 July 1918 in Transkei, South Africa) is a former and first democratically elected president of South Africa who was elected from 1994-1994. Before being elected president, Nelson Mandela was the leader of the African National Congress's anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. He took an active part in the movement against racial discrimination against blacks in South Africa and was sentenced by South African courts to life in prison for various crimes. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on Robin Hood Island for almost 27 years on charges leveled against him during the same movement. When he was released on February 11, 1990, he said goodbye to the violent movement and decided to pursue a path of dialogue that helped understand and overcome racial discrimination in South Africa.
After the end of the anti-apartheid movement, Nelson Mandela was hailed around the world, including by his opponents. In South Africa, Nelson Mandela is also known as "Madiba", an honorary title for the Mandela family.
Today, Nelson Mandela is the name of a movement in South Africa and around the world that is known for raising its voice for improvement. Nelson Mandela has been awarded more than 250 prizes for his four decades of movement and service, the most notable of which is the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize. In November 2009, the UN General Assembly declared July 18 (Nelson Mandela's birthday) as "Mandela Day" in connection with Nelson Mandela's campaign for world peace and freedom.
