Born in 1918 in a tiny village in South Africa, Nelson Mandela was actually given the birth name Rolihlahla Mandela. In the Xhosa language “Rolihlahla†literally translates to “pulling the branch of a tree†but figuratively means “troublemakerâ€. Indeed, Mandela did turn out to be a “troublemaker†but in the good sort of way. It was a primary school teacher who would later dub Mandela “Nelson†in keeping with the British bias so dominant in the education system of South Africa. Nelson would later study and become interested in South African history, learning how the tribal people lived in relative peace and harmony before the arrival of white man. By his early 20s, Mandela became active in the anti-apartheid movement. Apartheid was essentially the political system of South Africa which separated the native African Blacks from the European Whites while providing privileges to Whites which were denied the Blacks. Mandela led the movement against the status quo in a peaceful, non-violent way which would draw International sympathy and attention to his cause. He would also be sentenced to life in prison in 1962 on the trumped up charges of treason and sabotage where he would remain for 27 years. Following his release, Mandela led his political party in negotiations to establish a democracy. Not only did Nelson Mandela become South Africa’s first Black president, but he was also the first person elected in a fully democratic process. He served as President between 1994 and 1999. He was also co-awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with F. W. de Klerk, South Africa’s out-going President and the last of the apartheid-era country. Always believing in the inherent good of his fellow man, Nelson Mandela once said: “Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.”
