Nelson Mandela dies in Johannesburg

Nelson Mandela was born on July 18th 1918, in Mveso, Transkei, South Africa. Becoming actively involved in the anti-apartheid movement in his 20s, Mandela joined the African National Congress in 1943, as a law student. 

For 20 years, he directed a campaign of peaceful, nonviolent defiance against the South African government and its racist policies. He became the first black president of South Africa in 1994, serving until 1999. A symbol of global peacemaking, he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. 

He died on 5th December aged 95, after a long illness. 

 A look back at the life of Nelson Mandela

Mandela's words of wisdom.