Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was one of the most loved and respected leader in the world. He led South Africa from the chain of apartheid to a multi-racial democracy. Once he was tortured for his struggle but in the long run he became the president of the country he loved.

Nelson Mandela was born on 18 July, 1918 in South Africa. Then there was division among black and white racial lines in South Africa. He learnt more of the terrible apartheid system when he studied to become a lawyer. This led to his campaigning for equal rights and his involvement in the "African National Congress (ANC), which he later became the leader of.

He was in the forefront anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. The South African government did the best to keep Mandela from spreading his message of quality for blacks.

In 1964, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and sent to "Robben Island". He was released in 1990 after 26 years of imprisonment and the world rejoiced.

He became famous around the world as an icon of the struggle for freedom in South Africa. Rock stars, actors, politicians and ordinary people campaigned to free him and end apartheid.

He won the "Nobel Peace Prize" for his leadership for his-anti-apartheid activism in 1993.

Nelson Mandela's call for racial reconciliation won him the hearts of millions. His countrymen milled him "Madiba".

Mandela won the general election in April 1994. His inauguration was on 10 May 1994 in Pretoria. Many people around the world saw his inauguration in television. The event had 4000 guests, including world leaders from different backgrounds, Mandela was the first South African President elected in a completely democratic election.

He was his country's first ever black president and served in official until 1999. In his retirement, he continued to campaign tirelessly for many global causes until old age slowed him down.

Mandela died on 5 December 2013 at his home at Houghton Estate, Johannesburg from complications of a lung infection. Then he was 95. People around the world were grieved at the death of his great leader.