Nelson Mandela: biografi og kamp mod apartheid

Nelson Mandela is a huge inspiration, not only for his own country but for the whole world. For millions of people, Nelson Mandela symbolizes justice, forgiveness and

determinedness. 27 years in prison was the price Nelson Mandela had to pay for his fight against the racist country. Nelson Mandela spent 27 years behind bars. He is an icon for peace and a model for world.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born July 18th in 1918. He was born in a small village, in Mvezo. His Father named him Rolihlahla, which means "pulling the branch of the tree". His other name Nelson was not given until his first day at school. When he was about 7 years, he was the first in his family who came to school. One of his teachers gave him the English name "Nelson", which means troublemaker. When Mandela was 9 years, his father died of tuberculosis. Jongintaba Dalindyebo became his guardian. As a 19 year old Mandela was interested in boxing and running. He began college at Fort Hare, where he met Oliver Tambo, who became a friend for life. Both Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo were expelled from Fort Hare in 1940 because they broke the rules. Nelson Mandela became member of the ANC in 1942. In 1961 Mandela became the leader of ANC's armed wing. ACN's President Oliver Tambo was very sick and was replaced in 1991 by Nelson Mandela. ANC stands for African National Congress. Since stepping down as president, in 1999. Has Mandela become South Africa’s highest-profile ambassador, campaigning against HIV/Aids. Nelson Mandela sat in prison for 27 years. He sat in jail on Robben Island for 18 years. Then he was moved to prisons on the mainland. In 1982 he was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison. On Robben Island Mandela sat in cell number 5 in Section B. He arrived as prisoner number 466, in 1964, and was prisoner number 46664. The cell was about 2 times 3 meters. There was only the most important furniture in the cell. There wasn’t a bed, just a few small rugs he could sleep on. There was a small table with a cup. There was also a toilet bucket in the corner and 3 small cabinets for private things. The meals were made out of maize porridge, soup and black coffee. Sometimes they got a small piece of meat and some vegetables. Nelson Mandela didn’t get to see his family a lot, and when he finally saw them, it was through a pane of glass where you spoke in a phone. He was only allowed to get a visit every six months, the visiting was watched by the police and it only lasted half an hour. No children under 16 had come on the island. Everyday Mandela was sent to work in a quarry with the other prisoner. Stone Mining was the most ordinary kind of compulsion work, where prisoners were tied together 2 and 2 at their feet. The suns sharp light and dust from the quarry damaged many of the prisoners' eyes. Nelson Mandela had to go through an operation later in his life because his eyes could not develop tears. Under the high walls, he had a small garden with tomato plants, cactus plants and flowers. The letters were censored, prisoners wasn’t allowed to know anything about the community outside the high walls. So they cut all the things as prisoners were not allowed to know. Nelson Mandela wrote his speeches on the toilet paper from his cell. In 1994 Nelson Mandela was elected South Africa's first black president. It was South Africa's first free elections. Until 1999 when he resigned due to old age. Nelson Mandela has been married 3 times. He has 6 children and 20 grandchildren. Nelson Mandela’s first marriage was with Evelyn Ntokos Mase. They had 2 sons, Madiba born in 1946 and Makgatho born in 1950. They had also 2 daughters, their first daughter Makagatho died when she was 9 months. They baptized their second daughter Makaziwe for her honor. All their children were educated at Waterford kamhlaba. After 13 years of marriage they were divorced in 1957. His second marriage was with Winnie Mandela. They had 2 daughters, zenani born in 1953 and zindziswa born in 1960. They were divorced in 1996. Nelson Mandela third marriage was with Grace Machel. They married on his 80 birthday. They had no children together. Today is Nelson Mandela 90 years.