Birth	July 18, 1918
Place of Birth	Umtata, South Africa
Political Party	African National Congress
Official Title	President
Term	1994-1999
Known for	Leading the antiapartheid movement, first through militancy and later through diplomacy, and symbolizing the struggle of black South Africans during his long period of imprisonment
	Negotiating the end of apartheid and leading South Africa's peaceful transition to democratic rule
	Winning the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with F.W. de Klerk
Milestones	1940 Was expelled from the University of Fort Hare for involvement in student activism
	1944 Helped to establish the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League
	1951 Became president of the ANC
	1952 Opened first black-owned law practice in South Africa with his partner Oliver Tambo in Johannesburg
	1961 Organized Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), the military wing of the ANC, spurred by the 1960 massacre of blacks demonstrating in Sharpeville
	1964-1990 Was imprisoned under charges of sabotage, treason, and violent conspiracy
	February 11, 1990 Was released from prison by President F.W. de Klerk
	April 27, 1994 Was elected president of South Africa in the country's first multiracial elections
	1996 Led the adoption of a new constitution guaranteeing free speech, free political activity, and the right to restitution for land seized under apartheid regime
Quote	'Only free men can negotiate; prisoners cannot enter into contracts.' February 10, 1985, in a statement from prison.
Did You Know	A song by the band Special AKA titled 'Free Nelson Mandela' was an international hit in 1984, and a 1988 freedom concert honoring Mandela's 70th birthday attracted a crowd of 72,000 to London's Wembley Arena.
	While imprisoned at Robben Island, Mandela took classes at the University of London by correspondence.
	Mandela was born into a royal family of the Thembu people and was expected to become a chief.

quick facts
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela