Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, into a royal family of the Xhosa-speaking Thembu tribe in the South African village of Mvezo. While studying law as a young man, he became involved in the movement against racial discrimination, forging key relationships with black and white activists and in 1944 he joined the African National Congress (ANC) and helped establish its youth league, the ANCYL. Mandela’s commitment to activism intensified after the 1948 introduction of the apartheid.
'Boxing is egalitarian. In the ring, rank, age, color and wealth are irrelevant' wrote Mandela in his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom
Wedding: This photograph taken in 1957 shows South African anti-apartheid leader and African National Congress (ANC) member Nelson Mandela posing with his wife Winnie during their wedding.
Visit to London: Nelson Mandela visited the capital of the UK in 1962 to visit Oliver Tambo - a fellow anti-apartheid activist - visible in the background is the Big Ben clocktower and the Houses of Parliament
On 12 June 1964 - Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life for sabotage: Mandela - a lawyer by training - told the court: 'I do not deny that I planned sabotage. I did not plan it in a spirit of recklessness nor because I have any love of violence. I planned it as a result of a calm and sober assessment of the political situation that had arisen after many years of tyranny, exploitation and oppression of my people by the whites.'
This picture taken on June 16, 1964 shows eight men, among them anti-apartheid leader and African National Congress (ANC) member Nelson Mandela, sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia trial leaving the Palace of Justice in Pretoria with their fists raised in defiance through the barred windows of the prison car.
Historic: In this Feb. 11, 1990 file photo, Nelson Mandela, left, and his wife, Winnie, walk out of the Victor Verster prison in Paarl, near Cape Town, South Africa, after Mandela had spent 27 years in jail.
In this June 15, 1990 file photo, Pope John Paul II, right, shakes hands with Nelson Mandela, deputy leader of African National Congress, during a private audience at the Vatican
South African anti-apartheid leader and African National Congress (ANC) member Nelson Mandela (R) shaking hands with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on the steps of No 10 Downing Street in July 1990
Support for change: ANC president Nelson Mandela is surrounded by young supporters after addressing residents at Phola Park, a squatter settlement east of Johannesburg, 31 May 1992
Pope John Paul II (L) and South African President Nelson Mandela talking at the Presidential guest house in Pretoria in September 1995
Royal visit: Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and President Nelson Mandela during the British monarch's state visit to South Africa in 1995, a year after Mandela took office in 1994
Moral authority: In this Aug. 22, 1996 file photo, the Dalai Lama, left, walks hand-in-hand with South African President Nelson Mandela prior to an official reception at the presidential office in Cape Town, South Africa
Royal reception: In this July 9, 1996 file photo, South African President Nelson Mandela stands with Queen Elizabeth II on his arrival at Buckingham Palace in London for a state banquet in his honor
Welcome to London: Nelson Mandela wearing a South African Olympic Squad tracksuit and a security guard cross the road near Park Lane on their way from Hyde Park in 1996
Leader and philanthropist: South African President Nelson Mandela (L) shares a joke with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates after their meeting at Mandela's residence in Cape Town, in this file picture taken March 11, 1997
Two Icons: In this March 17, 1997 file photo, South African President Nelson Mandela, left, shows the way to Britain's Princess Diana in Cape Town, South Africa, where they discussed the threat of AIDS in the country
South African President Nelson Mandela receives a cricket bat from the South African Cricket captain, Hansie Cronje, during the lunch break on the third day of the Second Test between South Africa and India at Newlands on January 4, 1997
Popular culture: Prince of Wales (left) and South African President Nelson Mandela at a photocall with the Spice Girls (left to right), Mel C, Emma, Mel B, Geri and Victoria at the presidential residence Mahlamba Nalopfu in Pretoria in 1997
Prison: In this March 27, 1998 file photo, South African President Nelson Mandela, left, and U.S. President Bill Clinton peer through the bars of prison cell No. 5, the cramped, gray cell where Mandela was jailed
Unity: In this Aug. 11, 1998 file photo, South African President Nelson Mandela, (right), and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat gesture during a meeting in Cape Town, South Africa
South African Nobel Peace Prize winner and iconic political prisoner Nelson Mandela (R) with Cuban President Fidel Castro at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the GATT Agreement in 1998
Iconic figures: South African President Nelson Mandela, left, and American pop singer Michael Jackson arrive at a news conference in Cape Town in 1999
Sympathy: U.S. President George W. Bush looks up at former South African President Nelson Mandela as they address the media gathered outside the Oval Office of the White House November 12, 2001
Soccer fan: Former President Nelson Mandela receives an England team jersey with "Mandela" on the back from captain David Beckham in Johannesburg in 2003
Jubilant inhabitants of Soweto gather here at a mass African National Congress (ANC) rally which was originally called for to celebrate the unbanning of the ANC but turned out to be a celebration for the release of Nelson Mandela in June 1990.
Powerful ally: African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela waves after he and U.S. President George Bush made remarks on the South Lawn of the White House June 25, 1990 - the support of the US public was key in securing his release
Long road: ANC leader, South African Nelson Mandela (L) and South African President, South African, F.W.De Klerk (R) posing for a photograph with medals and diplomas as they share the Nobel Peace Price 1993
Reconciliation and victory: Nelson Mandela walks past Francois Pienaar in the line up before the Rugby World Cup Final in Johannesburg's Ellis Park on June 24 1995, when Nelson Mandela presented the Webb Ellis Trophy to Francois Pienaar
Return: South African President Nelson Mandela visits 10 February 1995 his former cell in notorious Robben Island prison off the coast of Cape Town where he spent 19 of his 27 years in jail
Former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, right, speaks during a press conference alongside British model Naomi Campbell in Barcelona, Spain, before the 'Frock and Roll' benefit concert in 2001
Charity: Former South African President Nelson Mandela (L) and Irish rock star Bono pose together after meeting at Mandela's residence at Houghton in Johannesburg, in this May 25, 2002 photo
Talk show host and political giant: Former South African president Nelson Mandela (L) poses with television personality Oprah Winfrey in Henley, Johannesburg, in this December 6, 2002 picture
Two giants: Former South African President Nelson Mandela lands a "straight left" to the chin of former World Champion Muhammad Ali as South African Special Olympics Athlete Rofhiwa looks on in June 2003
World leaders: British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former South African President Nelson Mandela and former US President Bill Clinton attending a gala night to mark the centenary of the Rhodes Trust in 2003
Quick Kiss: Former South African President Nelson Mandela kisses U.S. singer Beyonce Knowles, at the Nelson Mandela AIDS Benefit Concert in Cape Town, South Africa Saturday Nov. 29, 2003
Songstresses: Former South African President Nelson Mandela, from left, with U.S. singer Beyonce Knowles and British singer Annie Lennox on Robben Island in Cape Town, South Africa in 2003
Old friends: Former US President Bill Clinton (R) sharing a joke with former South African President Nelson Mandela (L) at Mandela's private residence in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2005
West Indian cricket star, Brian Lara (L) meetings with Nobel Peace Prize winner and iconic political prisoner Nelson Mandela (R) at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Johannesburg, South Africa in 2005
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton (L) embraces former South African President Nelson Mandela following remarks by Clinton during a visit to the Nelson Mandela Foundation July 19, 2007 in Johannesburg
US actor Brad Pitt (top) with Former South African President Nelson Mandela, after being appointed as a 46664 Ambassador (the number denotes Mandela's prison ID) in 2009
Reunited: South African president and Nobel peace prize laureate Nelson Mandela (C) poses with the Rugby World Cup held by South African coach Jake White (L) and South African captain John Smit (R) in 2007
World hero: Former South African President Nelson Mandela waves to the crowd at Soccer City stadium during the closing ceremony for the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg, on July 11, 2010 and (right) holds the trophy aloft in 2004
Nelson Mandela, aged 94, is seen at his home in Qunu, South Africa during a visit from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2012
Reflection: In this image dated Sept. 13, 2011 taken by photographer Adrian Steirn, shows former president Nelson Mandela's face reflected in a mirror
Photo Credit: Daily Mail
I wander what he saw when he looked into the mirror in the last picture? Did the lines on his face tell him a story or remind him of his journey? Did he tell himself "See how far I have come?" Did he say to himself "now I live in a true Rainbow Nation"? I wonder.
ReplyDeleteI truly feel gratitude that this man walked this earth and fulfilled his purpose on earth. He left his world a better place than he met it. RIP Nelson Mandela