Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, born on 18 July 1918 and passed away on 5 December 2013, was a pivotal figure in the annals of South African history and global efforts towards equality and justice. He was the first black president of South Africa, serving from 1994 to 1999, and a symbol of the struggle against apartheid. Mandela's presidency was groundbreaking, as he was the first leader elected in a fully representative democratic election in the country. His leadership was marked by the dismantling of the apartheid regime and fostering racial reconciliation. Mandela was committed to the ideals of African nationalism and socialism and led the African National Congress (ANC) from 1991 to 1997.

Mandela hailed from the Xhosa nation and was born into the Thembu royal family. His journey began in Mvezo, South Africa, and took him through the halls of the University of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand, where he studied law. His legal career in Johannesburg was intertwined with his increasing involvement in anti-colonial and African nationalist politics, joining the ANC in 1943 and co-founding its Youth League in 1944. Mandela's resistance to the apartheid system, established by the National Party's white-only government, was characterized by both non-violent protests and, later, armed struggle through the uMkhonto we Sizwe, which he co-founded.

Imprisoned for 27 years for his efforts to overthrow the apartheid government, Mandela's incarceration became a rallying point for both domestic and international campaigns against apartheid. Upon his release in 1990, he, along with F.W. de Klerk, negotiated the end of apartheid, leading to multi-racial elections where he emerged victorious. His tenure as president was notable for the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address past human rights abuses and implementing policies aimed at combating poverty, inequality, and improving healthcare services.

Mandela's legacy extends beyond his presidency; he became an elder statesman focusing on charity, particularly in the fight against HIV/AIDS through the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Though his life and career were not without controversy, Mandela received global acclaim for his activism, earning over 250 honours, including the Nobel Peace Prize. He remains a revered figure, often referred to by his Xhosa clan name, Madiba, and hailed as the "Father of the Nation" in South Africa.