Nelson Mandela

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (/mænˈdɛlə/; born Rolihlahla Mandela (Xhosa pronunciation: [xoˈliːɬaɬa manˈdeːla]); 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist, who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black chief executive, and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism and fostering racial reconciliation. Politically an African nationalist and democratic socialist, he served as President of the African National Congress (ANC) party from 1991 to 1997. Internationally, Mandela was Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999.

A Xhosa born to the Thembu royal family, Mandela attended Fort Hare University and the University of Witwatersrand, where he studied law. Living in Johannesburg, he became involved in anti-colonial politics, joining the ANC and becoming a founding member of its Youth League. After the Afrikaner minority government of the National Party established apartheid – a system of racial segregation that privileged whites – in 1948, he rose to prominence in the ANC's 1952 anti-apartheid Defiance Campaign, was appointed superintendent of the organisation's Transvaal chapter and presided over the 1955 Congress of the People. Working as a lawyer, he was repeatedly arrested for seditious activities and, with the ANC leadership, was unsuccessfully prosecuted in the Treason Trial from 1956 to 1961. Influenced by Marxism, he secretly joined the South African Communist Party (SACP). Although initially committed to non-violent protest, in association with the SACP he co-founded the militant Umkhonto we Sizwe in 1961, leading a sabotage campaign against the government. In 1962, he was arrested, convicted of conspiracy to overthrow the state, and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia Trial.

Free Nelson Mandela

"Nelson Mandela" (known in some versions as "Free Nelson Mandela") is a song written by British musician Jerry Dammers and performed by band the Special A.K.A. – with lead vocal by Stan Campbell – released on the single "Nelson Mandela"/"Break Down The Door" in 1984 as a protest against the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela by the apartheid South African government. The backing vocals were performed by Molly and Polly Jackson, two girls the band's drummer John Bradbury had "met in a bar in Camden", while the chorus was performed by session singers including Claudia Fontaine and Caron Wheeler, who later went on to appear with Soul II Soul. Unlike most protest songs, the track is upbeat and celebratory, drawing on musical influences from South Africa. The song peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart and was immensely popular in Africa.

In December 2013, following the news of Nelson Mandela's death, the single re-entered at number 96 on the UK Singles Chart.

Reception

Nelson Mandela (Doyle)

Nelson Mandela is an outdoor sculpture of Nelson Mandela by Jean Doyle, installed outside the Embassy of South Africa, Washington, D.C., in the United States. The 9 feet (2.7 m) statue was unveiled on September 21, 2013.

See also

References

Nelson Mandela (EP)

Nelson Mandela is the debut extended play by South African singer Zahara, released on July 15, 2013. It pays tribute to Nelson Mandela and was released at a time when Mandela was critically ill but stable at the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria. The EP's lead single, "Nelson Mandela", peaked at number 1 on South Africa's official music chart. Upon its release, the EP was available for purchase on iTunes.

EPs lead single

The formulation of the EP started when Zahara released a song titled "Nelson Mandela". The song, which features Mzwakhe Mbuli, pays tribute to Nelson Mandela while celebrating his accomplishments. When the song was played on Metro FM, it created a lot of media and social buzz. According to City Press newspaper, the ballad "evokes strong emotions, spurred on by the relentless guitar accompaniment Zahara is known for, and her soaring, strong vocals. In the song, she calls Mandela a man of peace and a pillar of strength." Zahara commented on the song, saying: "I'm very excited and emotional at the same time. I trust that South Africans and the world will receive it (the song) and appreciated it. Above all else, I'm doing this in honour of Tata Mandela."

Nelson Mandela (disambiguation)

Nelson Mandela is the first post-apartheid president of South Africa.

Nelson Mandela may also refer to:

See also

All pages beginning with "Nelson Mandela"