The Inspiring Story of Nelson Mandela: A champion of change
Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, in the charming village of Mvezo, nestled in the lush Transkei region of South Africa. With a mother named Nosekeni Fanny and a father named Henry, young Nelson was born into a royal family, with his father serving as chief of the proud Tembu tribe and his great-grandfather being a former king!
But wait, it gets better. Little Nelson’s real name was Rolihlahla, and it wasn’t until a creative teacher at school gave him the name Nelson at the ripe age of seven that he truly found his identity. Can you imagine being known as Rolihlahla for seven whole years? Thank goodness for that teacher!
Early Life
Unfortunately, Nelson’s royal family life was cut short when he lost his father at the young age of twelve. But, it was the stories he heard from the tribe’s elders about his ancestors’ bravery during wars of resistance that sparked a fire in him to make his own mark in the fight for freedom. Nelson’s destiny was set, and he would go on to become one of the greatest leaders in history.
So, there you have it. From a royal childhood to a lifetime of making history, Nelson Mandela truly lived an extraordinary life. And who knows, maybe if he was born in a different time or place, he would have been known as King Rolihlahla instead!
Nelson Mandela began his educational journey in the quaint village of Qunu. It was there, under the guidance of his beloved teacher Miss Mdingane, that he was given the name Nelson. Talk about a name change for the books!
From Qunu, Nelson continued his studies at the esteemed Clarkebury Boarding Institute, where he completed his Junior Certificate. He then took his talents to Healdtown, a Wesleyan secondary school known for producing top-notch students. But let’s be real, Nelson was the shining star there.
However, Nelson’s college experience at the University of Fort Hare was cut short after he was expelled for being a bit too outspoken during a student protest. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Nelson moved to Johannesburg to study law at the University of the Witwatersrand. Fast forward to 1943, and Nelson was back at Fort Hare, donning a graduation cap and gown, and officially earning his BA. Not only did he complete his degree, but he did it with style and determination, proving that when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade (or in this case, earn a degree).
So, there you have it, the educational journey of Nelson Mandela, a man who never let a little thing like expulsion stands in the way of his dreams. Talk about determination!
Getting into politics
South Africa is a country that boasts a rich and diverse culture, hence the nickname “the rainbow nation.” But, despite this beauty, the country was divided along racial lines during Nelson Mandela’s upbringing. White people held all the power, living the high life with good jobs, fancy homes, and access to top-notch education and healthcare. Meanwhile, black people were stuck with low-paying jobs and lived in impoverished communities with subpar facilities, and were even denied the right to vote!
But our man Nelson was not about to sit idly by and watch this injustice continue. In 1944, he joined the African National Congress (ANC), a political group that aimed to achieve equal rights for both whites and blacks. He helped form the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) and was a political force to be reckoned with.
Sadly, in 1948, the South African government introduced the inhumane system of apartheid, further perpetuating the country’s racial divide. The laws were so unjust that black and white people were forced to lead separate lives, unable to live in the same areas, share a table in a restaurant, attend the same schools, or even sit together on public transportation!
In 1944, Nelson tied the knot with Evelyn Mase, a nurse, and cousin to his friend Walter Sisulu. The couple had two sons and two daughters, one of whom unfortunately passed away. Sadly, the marriage didn’t last, and the couple parted ways in 1958.
Nelson was a rising star in the ANCYL and was instrumental in the adoption of a more radical mass-based policy known as the Programme of Action in 1949. In 1952, he was named National Volunteer-in-Chief of the Defiance Campaign, working with Maulvi Cachalia to bring about civil disobedience against six unjust laws. He and 19 others were charged under the Suppression of Communism Act for their role in the campaign and sentenced to a nine-month suspended sentence of hard labour.
The Treason Trial of Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela, a true South African hero, went on quite the journey before becoming the beloved leader we know today. In 1956, he was swept up in a police raid and faced a Treason Trial with 27 others. But, the trial ended in their acquittal on March 29, 1961, and he went on to marry Winnie Madikizela in 1958.
However, things weren’t all sunshine and rainbows. The police killed 69 protesters in Sharpeville in 1960, which led to a state of emergency, the banning of the ANC and PAC (Pan Africanist Congress), and the detention of thousands, including Mandela.
But he wasn’t one to back down from a challenge. Days before the end of his trial, he spoke at a conference and planned a national strike, though it had to be called off. He then went underground and helped establish Umkhonto weSizwe, a.k.a. the “Spear of the Nation,” which launched with a bang on December 16, 1961.
Mandela then went on a little adventure, traveling to different countries and receiving military training, before being arrested in 1962 for leaving the country and inciting workers to strike. He was sentenced to five years in prison and transferred to Robben Island in 1963.
But the biggest challenge came in the form of the Rivonia Trial, where he and ten others were charged with sabotage. Facing the death penalty, he delivered his famous “Spear from the Dock” speech, declaring that he was willing to die for his beliefs.
I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.
In the end, he and seven others were convicted and sentenced to life in prison, but even that couldn’t break his spirit. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Mandela’s Release from prison
Nelson Mandela was taken for a spin to the hospital on August 12, 1988, where the docs found out he had a case of the tuberculosis blues. After cooping up in hospitals for over three months, he was transferred to a fancy house prison near Paarl on December 7, 1988, where he spent the last leg of his sentence in style.
And on the fateful Sunday of February 11, 1990, he walked out of those gates a free man, just nine days after the ANC and PAC were unbanned, and a mere four months after his fellow Rivonia comrades were released. Throughout his time behind bars, Mandela politely declined several conditional release offers, because why settle for a hotel when you can live in a house?
Mandela then dove headfirst into official negotiations to end apartheid, and in 1991, he was elected as the new ANC President, taking over for his friend Oliver Tambo. In 1993, he shared the Nobel Peace Prize with President FW de Klerk, and on April 27, 1994, he cast his first-ever vote. Talk about making history!
President
On May 10th, 1994, history was made as Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as South Africa’s first-ever democratically elected president. Being the romantic he was, he celebrated his 80th birthday by tying the knot with his third wife, Graça Machel.
But being the man of his word, he stepped down from the presidency after just one term and continued to spread love and kindness through his various charitable organizations, including the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Nelson Mandela was a shining example of strength and integrity, never retaliating against racism with more hate, but instead spreading the message of democracy and equality. He passed away at his Johannesburg home on December 5th, 2013, leaving a legacy of inspiration for those suffering oppression and a reminder to us all to stand against it.
First Posted on Paradux Africa