Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid activist and political leader. He joined the African National Congress in 1944 and initially promoted peaceful resistance to apartheid. After the ANC was banned in 1960, he endorsed armed struggle and was imprisoned in 1964. Following 27 years in prison, Mandela was released in 1990 and worked with President F.W. de Klerk to dismantle apartheid. He served as South Africa’s first black president from 1994 to 1999.