Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
(July 18, 1918 - December 5, 2013), nicknamed "Madiba", was a South African revolutionary leader, political leader, and philanthropist.
He was known for his lifelong struggle against Apartheid (enforced racial segregation between black and white South Africans that favored the whites), which was instituted in 1948. His organization, the African National Congress (ANC), which later evolved into a political party, was soon declared a terrorist organization and banned by the government. Mandela was arrested in 1962 and imprisoned for life on "terrorist" charges and soon became a world famous icon of democracy and justice in the struggles against segregation.
Mandela spent 27 years in prison, being eventually freed by president F.W. de Klerk, and was then elected president of South Africa in 1994, the first black head of state in South Africa and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election.
He was married to Evelyn Ntoko Mase, Winnie Madikizela and Graca Machel, and had six children.
The Mandela Effect is named for him; specifically, the fact that a surprising number of people had the exact same misremembering of him dying in prison.
Mandela in fiction and media:
Live-Action Portrayals:
- Mandela (1987 HBO Mini Series). Portrayed by Danny Glover, with Alfre Woodard as Winnie.
- Mandela and de Klerk (1997 Made-for-TV Movie). Portrayed by Sidney Poitier, with Michael Caine as former South African President F.W. de Klerk.
- Goodbye Bafana (2007). Portrayed by Dennis Haysbert, with Joseph Fiennes as James Gregory, his prison guard.
- Invictus (2009). Portrayed by Morgan Freeman, with the focus on the South African Rugby team.
- Endgame (2009). Portrayed by Clarke Peters.
- Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013): Portrayed by Idris Elba, with Naomie Harris as Winnie.
- Winnie Mandela (2013): Portrayed by Terrence Howard, with Jennifer Hudson as Winnie.
- United Passions: Mandela appears in archival footage with FIFA head Sepp Blatter played by Tim Roth as the latter hands Mandela a trophy (via a very poor attempt at a Forrest Gump-esque greenscreen).
Music:
- Johnny Clegg's 1987 anti-Apartheid song "Asimbonanga" was dedicated to him.
