Statesman · 1918 – 2013

Nelson Mandela

Little-Known Facts

He spent 18 of his 27 prison years on the notorious Robben Island.
On his release in 1990 he emphasized reconciliation, helping his country avoid civil war.

Myths & Misconceptions

Was Mandela always committed to nonviolence?

Not strictly. After peaceful protest was met with brutal repression, he co-founded an armed wing of the ANC, though he later became a global symbol of reconciliation.