1. Nelson Mandela was born in Mvezo, South Africa on July 18, 1918.2. His mother was Nonqaphi Nosekeni and his father was Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela.3. Mandela was the first black President of South Africa, serving from 1994 to 1999.4. He was an anti-apartheid revolutionary and political leader.5. Mandela attended the University of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand.6. Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944, and in 1956 he was arrested for treason.7. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1962 and served 27 years in prison.8. Mandela was released from prison in 1990, and in 1993 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.9. In 1994, Mandela was elected President of South Africa in the country’s first multi-racial election.10. Mandela worked to end apartheid and promote racial reconciliation in South Africa.11. Mandela was a strong advocate for human rights and social justice.12. He was the first President of South Africa to be elected in a fully representative democratic election.13. Mandela served one five-year term as President of South Africa.14. Mandela was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2001.15. He died on December 5, 2013 at the age of 95.16. Mandela is remembered as a symbol of peace and justice.17. He wrote several books during his lifetime, including Long Walk to Freedom and Conversations with Myself.18. Mandela received over 250 awards, including the United Nations Human Rights Prize, the Jawaharlal Nehru Award, and the Gandhi Peace Prize.19. Mandela was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2009.20. He has been honored with numerous monuments, statues, and memorials around the world.21. Mandela’s image has appeared on coins, stamps, and banknotes in many countries.22. He was the subject of numerous films and documentaries.23. Mandela was a member of the Xhosa ethnic group.24. He was raised in the Thembu tribe.25. Mandela’s father died when he was nine years old.26. He was adopted by Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo at the age of nine.27. Mandela was a lawyer before he became involved in politics.28. He was a skilled negotiator and mediator.29. Mandela partnered with then-President F.W. de Klerk to create South Africa’s first multi-racial democracy.30. Mandela helped create the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate human rights abuses during apartheid.31. Mandela and de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.32. Mandela was a member of the African National Congress Youth League from 1944 to 1951.33. He was a leader of the ANC’s armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, from 1961 to 1963.34. Mandela was convicted of sabotage and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964.35. He was held in the Robben Island prison for 18 years.36. Mandela was moved to Pollsmoor Prison in 1982, then to Victor Verster Prison in 1988.37. Mandela was married three times and had six children.38. He was the patron of the South African AIDS charity, The Nelson Mandela Foundation.39. Mandela was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1988 while in prison.40. Mandela was awarded more than 50 honorary degrees from universities around the world.41. He established the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund in 1995.42. Mandela served as the Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999.43. He was the first South African President to address the United Nations General Assembly in more than 30 years.44. Mandela was a devout Christian and attended the Methodist Church.45. He was an avid sports fan and a lifelong supporter of the Springboks, South Africa’s national rugby team.46. Mandela was an honorary member of the British Labour Party.47. He received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 1998.48. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, in 1990.49. Mandela was the first foreign leader to address both Houses of the U.S. Congress in 1990.50. He was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002.
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