Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela Introduction: An important event of the 1990’s was Nelson Mandela’s release from prison on Robben Island in South Africa where he was serving a life sentence. An international campaign had lobbied for his release, which was granted in 1990. After becoming ANC President, Mandela led negotiations with President F.W.de Klerk to abolish apartheid and establish multiracial elections in 1994, in which he led the ANC to victory. Nelson Mandela became the first black president of South Africa in 1994, serving until 1999. A symbol of global peacemaking, he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 , Nelson Mandela was born on July the 18 , 1918 When Mandela was 9 years old, his father died of lung disease, causing his life to change dramatically. He was adopted by Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo, the acting regent of the Theme people a gesture done as a favor to Mandela's father, who, years earlier, had recommended Jongintaba be made chief. Mandela subsequently left the carefree life he knew in Qunu, fearing that he would never see his village again. He traveled by motor car to Mqhekezweni, the provincial capital of Thembuland, to the chief's royal residence. In 1939, Mandela enrolled at the University College of Fort Hare, the only residential center of higher learning for blacks in South Africa at the time. Fort Hare was considered Africa's equivalent of the University of Oxford or Harvard University, drawing scholars from all parts of sub-Saharan Africa. In his first year at the university, Mandela took the required courses, but focused on Roman Dutch law to prepare for a career in civil service as an interpreter or clear regarding as the best profession that a black man could obtain at the time. The End This is all I know about Nelson Mandela