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Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
born 18 July 1918
birthplace:Village near Umtata
Brief Biography:Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in a village near Umtata in the Transkei on the 18 July 1918. His father was the principal councillor to the Acting Paramount Chief of Thembuland. After his father s death the young Rolihlahla became the Paramount Chief s ward to be groomed to assume high office. However influenced by the cases that came before the Chief s court he determined to become a lawyer. Hearing the elders stories of his ancestors valour during the wars of resistance in defence of their fatherland he dreamed also of making his own contribution to the freedom struggle of his people.
After receiving a primary education at a local mission school Nelson Mandela was sent to Healdtown a Wesleyan secondary school of some repute where he matriculated. He then enrolled at the University College of Fort Hare for the Bachelor of Arts Degree where he was elected onto the Students Representative Council. He was suspended from college for joining in a protest boycott. He went to Johannesburg where he completed his BA by correspondence took articles of clerkship and commenced study for his LLB. He entered politics in earnest while studying in Johannesburg by joining the African National Congress in 1942.
After receiving a primary education at a local mission school Nelson Mandela was sent to Healdtown a Wesleyan secondary school of some repute where he matriculated. He then enrolled at the University College of Fort Hare for the Bachelor of Arts Degree where he was elected onto the Students Representative Council. He was suspended from college for joining in a protest boycott. He went to Johannesburg where he completed his BA by correspondence took articles of clerkship and commenced study for his LLB. He entered politics in earnest while studying in Johannesburg by joining the African National Congress in 1942.
Life:At the age of twenty four Mandela joined the African National Congress. During the Second World War Mandela along with other young Africans set about taking the ANC message to the millions of lower class black people around South Africa. These young liberals set about firing up the conservative conciliatory methods of the ANC old guard in favor of a radical form of Nationalism based on the principle of national self determination. By 1960 Nelson Mandela was the unchallenged leader of the whole ANC. After the Sharpeville Massacre the ANC was officially banned. A guerrilla arm of the ANC was then formed called Spear of the Nation. Spear of the Nation engaged in Governmental sabotage with Mandela at the forefront. In mid 1962 he was jailed for five years for encouraging strike action. While serving this sentence he was charged with sabotage. Speaking in court in his defence he stated this his actions were the 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. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on the Robben Island Maximum Security Prison.
Education:Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is a well educated man. He is a great believer in education and life long learning. It was at the Wesleyan mission school that he first attended that he was given the name Nelson.
This formal schooling was not the only Mandela education though. As the son of a tribal councilor he learned the art of listening which helped in his role as a leader and peacemaker throughout his life.
In terms of formal schooling when Mandelas father died when Nelson was 9 he was taken under the guardianship of the regent Jongintaba. In the usual Thembu custom Nelson Mandela school meant initiation at 16 and attendance at Clarkebury Boarding School. Instead of taking the usual three years to complete his Junior Certification Nelson was through in 2 years.
From there he went in 1937 to the usual college for Thembu royalty Healdtown in Fort Beaufort. At the Fort Hare University Nelson Mandela became involved in the Student Representative Council. Following a boycott there he was told to leave and the Nelson Mandela education took a change of direction. Rather than follow through on his guardians wish for an arranged marriage the young Nelson took off to Johannesburg. He completed his Bachelor of Arts studies there through the University of South Africa through correspondence.
Mandela then went on to study law at the University of Witswatersrand. Nelson Mandela university life was interrupted by his involvement in the ANC. He and friend Oliver Tambo opened the first black legal practice in South Africa giving affordable and often free advice to black people who could otherwise not afford it. Mandela continued his legal education while he was in prison too.
When he was put into Robben Island prison Mandela often gave legal advice to both prisoners and prison staff. His love and belief in education was appreciated, and Robben Island became known as the Nelson Mandela University. It was a cruel and tough life in prison but Mandela somehow managed to turn it into a place of learning.
This formal schooling was not the only Mandela education though. As the son of a tribal councilor he learned the art of listening which helped in his role as a leader and peacemaker throughout his life.
In terms of formal schooling when Mandelas father died when Nelson was 9 he was taken under the guardianship of the regent Jongintaba. In the usual Thembu custom Nelson Mandela school meant initiation at 16 and attendance at Clarkebury Boarding School. Instead of taking the usual three years to complete his Junior Certification Nelson was through in 2 years.
From there he went in 1937 to the usual college for Thembu royalty Healdtown in Fort Beaufort. At the Fort Hare University Nelson Mandela became involved in the Student Representative Council. Following a boycott there he was told to leave and the Nelson Mandela education took a change of direction. Rather than follow through on his guardians wish for an arranged marriage the young Nelson took off to Johannesburg. He completed his Bachelor of Arts studies there through the University of South Africa through correspondence.
Mandela then went on to study law at the University of Witswatersrand. Nelson Mandela university life was interrupted by his involvement in the ANC. He and friend Oliver Tambo opened the first black legal practice in South Africa giving affordable and often free advice to black people who could otherwise not afford it. Mandela continued his legal education while he was in prison too.
When he was put into Robben Island prison Mandela often gave legal advice to both prisoners and prison staff. His love and belief in education was appreciated, and Robben Island became known as the Nelson Mandela University. It was a cruel and tough life in prison but Mandela somehow managed to turn it into a place of learning.
Fun Facts:Nelsons peaceful boyhood was spent cattle herding and other rural pursuits. When his father died Nelsons rich and powerful relative took custody of him. Nelson Mandela was influenced by his African heritage of ritual and taboo. His values and attitudes were shaped by traditions and his royal privileges.
He was sent to boarding school and later to Fort Hare Missionary College. He was expelled from college for helping to organize a strike against the white colonial rule of the institution. He then became involved in other protests against the white colonial rule. In doing so he set out for personal and national liberation. He ran away from home to avoid an arranged marriage. Later he graduated from the University of South Africa with a degree in law. He joined a law firm as an apprentice. In 1942 Nelson joined the African National Congress ANC which at the time was polite to the government. Soon Nelson Mandela had persuaded the ANC to use boycotts and strikes against the government instead of being polite. He was arrested for civil disobedience and was not allowed to attend gatherings.In his spare time Nelson Mandela studied to become a lawyer so that he could protect blacks. Work as a lawyer strengthened his feelings against apartheid which segregated and discriminated against blacks in South Africa. Nelson was particularly active during the 1950’s.
He was sent to boarding school and later to Fort Hare Missionary College. He was expelled from college for helping to organize a strike against the white colonial rule of the institution. He then became involved in other protests against the white colonial rule. In doing so he set out for personal and national liberation. He ran away from home to avoid an arranged marriage. Later he graduated from the University of South Africa with a degree in law. He joined a law firm as an apprentice. In 1942 Nelson joined the African National Congress ANC which at the time was polite to the government. Soon Nelson Mandela had persuaded the ANC to use boycotts and strikes against the government instead of being polite. He was arrested for civil disobedience and was not allowed to attend gatherings.In his spare time Nelson Mandela studied to become a lawyer so that he could protect blacks. Work as a lawyer strengthened his feelings against apartheid which segregated and discriminated against blacks in South Africa. Nelson was particularly active during the 1950’s.
Awards won:Mandela has received more than two hundred and fifty awards over four decades most notably the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
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