Biography
Nelson Mandela, a towering figure in the fight against apartheid and a symbol of the struggle for justice and equality, led an extraordinary life that left an indelible mark on the world. Born on July 18, 1918, in the village of Mvezo in Umtata, then part of South Africa's Cape Province, Mandela belonged to the Thembu royal family. His given name, Rolihlahla, means 'pulling the branch of a tree' or metaphorically, 'troublemaker.'
Mandela's early life was marked by the traditional customs and rituals of his Thembu upbringing. His father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a chief, and Mandela was groomed to follow in his footsteps. However, tragedy struck when Mandela was just nine years old, as his father died, and he was placed under the care of the acting regent of the Thembu people, Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo.
Under Chief Jongintaba's guardianship, Mandela received a formal education at Clarkebury Boarding Institute and Healdtown, two of the best mission schools in South Africa
Mandela's early life was marked by the traditional customs and rituals of his Thembu upbringing. His father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a chief, and Mandela was groomed to follow in his footsteps. However, tragedy struck when Mandela was just nine years old, as his father died, and he was placed under the care of the acting regent of the Thembu people, Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo.
Under Chief Jongintaba's guardianship, Mandela received a formal education at Clarkebury Boarding Institute and Healdtown, two of the best mission schools in South Africa
Birth — 1918
1981 - June 5 - First reported case of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
Death — 2013
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