The inspiring story of Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela, who would have been 100 this year, was one of history’s greatest leaders.
Nelson Mandela, a former president of South Africa, was one of the most important people of the 20th century. He is an inspirational figure for millions of people – not only in South Africa, but around the world. Mandela believed in democracy, equality and freedom. He faced many struggles during his lifetime, including racism and being put in prison, yet he never lost sight of the causes he was fighting for. Despite being treated badly, he always acted with dignity. During his life he brought about real change to millions of people and he is still a symbol for those fighting cruel treatment and inequality.
Birth of a leader
Mandela was born 100 years ago this week, on 18 July 1918, in Mvezo, South Africa. His parents named him Rolihlahla which means troublemaker in isiXhosa (one of the official languages of South Africa). He was the first member of his family to go to school, and it was on his first day at school that his teacher gave him the name Nelson. Giving African children English names was common in South Africa at that time. Even though most of the population was black, white people ruled the country and some of them couldn’t or wouldn’t pronounce African names. As Mandela grew up, he became aware of the unfair way that black people in South Africa were treated. White people owned the land, and controlled the money and military. They also forced black people to live separate lives from white people. It was illegal for black people to use the same schools or hospitals as white people. In 1948, this separation was made law and given the name apartheid, which means separateness.