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Nelson Mandela smiling and waving in front of a microphone.

This is Nelson Mandela.

  • He was born in South Africa in 1918.
  • He believed that everyone should be treated the same.
  • He spent 27 years in prison.
  • He was the first black President of South Africa.
Nelson Mandela smiling and waving in front of a microphone.
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Watch: Nelson Mandela's life

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What did Nelson Mandela do?

Photograph of Nelson Mandela smiling.
  • In South Africa white people had more rights than black people.
  • Black and white people had to lead separate lives.
  • Nelson Mandela fought for change, but he was put into prison for 27 years.
  • When he left prison, he wasn鈥檛 angry. He wanted peace.
  • In 1994, aged 77, Nelson Mandela became the first black President of South Africa.
Photograph of Nelson Mandela smiling.
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Did you know?

Nelson Mandela looking out of his old prison cell window.
  • When he was born, Nelson Mandela was called Rolihlahla.
  • His name means 鈥榯o pull a branch off a tree鈥.
  • His teacher gave him the nickname "Nelson" on his first day at school.
  • He was in three different prisons for 27 years in total.
  • The most famous one is Robben Island, where he spent 18 years.
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Activity 1 鈥 Sort the events in Nelson Mandela's life

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Activity 2 鈥 Nelson Mandela quiz

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