Nelson Mandela: From Herd Boy to Freedom Fighter
The Immortal quote.
“During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” ...Nelson Mandela
Dreams of the herd boy.
Born in Mvezo and from a royal lineage.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in a small village of pastoral shepherds called Mvezo in the eastern cape of South Africa. Mandela’s date of birth was July 18, 1918 and he belonged to the Madiba clan where his father, Henry Mandela was a local chief. He was of the Thembu tribe and his ancestor spoke Xhosa.
Spent his childhood in Qunu.
Mandela was the 13th child in polygamous family and his mother was the third wife. It was at Qunu, however, that Mandela spent his childhood days instead of Mvezo, his birthplace. This was prompted by the removal of his father as the chieftain of Mvezo when Mandela was just an infant and the Mandela family had to relocate to Qunu.
A pupil and a herd boy before his father died.
In Qunu, Mandela as a boy was both a pupil and a herder tending to sheep and cattle on the verdant hills after school hours and school free days. He lost his father when he 9 years old and his mother sent him to live with the ruler of the Thembu tribe at Mqhekezweni which was not far from Qunu.
Secondary and University education.
The young Mandela’s dream was not to be a local chief but he wanted to be educated. It was through the kindness of this very Thembu ruler known as Jongintaba that Mandela completed his schooling and later attended the university. Mandela completed his secondary education at South Africa native school and later attended Universities of Forte Hare and Witwatersrand in pursuit of his law studies.
His personal Life with the women he loved.
Nelson Mandela married thrice and divorced twice during his life time. First, he was married to Evelyn Nkoto Mase from 1944 to 1958. His second marriage was to Winnie Madikizela from 1958 t0 1996 and Graca Machel from 1998 till his death. Mandela has seven children including a step-daughter and several grandchildren.
Mandela and his anti-racial activities.
As a lawyer, Mandela was engaged in civil rights movement and anti-colonial politics, leading to his active membership of the African National Congress in 1943. Mandela became grossly involved in anti-racial activities when the white-only South Africa government formally adopted and rigorously implemented the ‘ Apartheid’ policy between 1944 t0 1948 even though racial segregation has been part of South Africa ever since the Dutch and British began their colonialization of South Africa. Mandela understood what institutionalization of racial discrimination meant. In history, it has led to genocides, tortures and extermination of targeted race. He was bond to fight this grave injustice to the last drop of his blood. With the host of others like Walter Sisulu, Steve Biko, and Oliver Tambo, the anti-apartheid movements began.
Shades and phases of apartheid in brief.
Scramble for South Africa.
To understand the rationale behind the institutionalization of apartheid in South Africa, it is important to know that South Africa has one of the best weather in the world. Not only this, it has an abundance of natural resources ranging from Gold to diamonds and its soils are heavily rich for all forms of agriculture. In the 17th century, the English and Dutch began their colonialization of South Africa. Both of these colonialists began to scramble for South African territories leading to wars and even migrations within South Africa. The blacks, the original owners of this land were seen as a threat and this lead to a system known as apartheid.
Systemic racial segregation.
Apartheid is a systemic form of racial discrimination targeted at South African black people. It is an ideology which vehemently frowns at the integration of blacks and whites in South Africa and is based on the colour of the skin. The origin of this racial philosophy is from the mind of the white colonialist who still believes that the white race is the only privileged race on earth.
By 1948 when apartheid laws were set up by the white government, every facet of the South African society was impacted. Blacks were prohibited from mixing with whites, marriages between both races were legally forbidden, jobs were reserved only for whites, and blacks had to carry entry permits everywhere they go.
The Bantu Authority Act of 1951
The best of public places were exclusively reserved for the whites and the blacks were relegated to the poorest land and lived in ghettoes called homelands where social amenities and jobs were lacking.
Alienation of the blacks through the use of permits and denationalization.
Blacks were required to carry passports or passes before they could be permitted to enter any town or city which was not designated as a Bantu homeland. Blacks were forbidden to vote for in national elections, only in their homelands and they have no representation in the national parliament. This meant a systematic slavery and denationalization of the whole black population who formed only the majority in South Africa but were the owners of the lands.
The public Safety and Criminal Law Amendment Acts of 1953.
These acts were aimed to unleash draconic punishments on any black that violated the apartheid laws. Punishments come in form of flogging, incarceration and fines for any form of protest. The government by venture of these acts, have the absolute powers to proclaim stern states of urgency for any civil disobedience on the black population. It was on the basis of these acts that over 60 blacks were shot dead including children and more than 180 were severely injured in Sharpeville for refusing to carry their passes or permits in what came to be known as Sharpeville massacre. By the enactment of apartheid laws, all South Africans were officially classified into white, black and coloured according to the population registration act of 1950 and there were harsh penalties for those who disobeyed the apartheid laws.
Apartheid at a glance
The link between Apartheid and Transatlantic slavery.
A critical observation at apartheid shows a cross-link with transatlantic slavery where a large number of blacks were captured and transported in ships across the Atlantic ocean and forced to work as slaves at farms, plantations and homes of self-imposed masters. Force through the use of guns, violence and killings as was employed in the era of transatlantic slavery was also utilized as a strategy by the apartheid regimes.
It was not the black-man-only war.
Those who fought against apartheid in South Africa were not only blacks. There were the whites, the coloured and even Indians who resisted it. Some of those non-blacks who supported the anti-apartheid struggles were even murdered by the white-dominated South Africa government. David Webster, a university professor was killed in 1989 for supporting the ant-apartheid movements. Neil Aggett, a white medical doctor was tortured with electric currents for 70 days until he died because he was against apartheid. For the South African blacks, those non-blacks who denounced the apartheid system are timeless friends and legends of South Africa.
Prisoner of Conscience
The court sentenced Mandela to life imprisonment out of which Mandela served 27 years in three notable prisons: Robben Island (1964-1982), Pollsmoor (1982-1988) and Victor Verster (1988-1990). While in prison, Mandela was given various forms of torture ranging from flogging, breaking stones and sleeping in cold cells. He was forbidden visits and even newspapers. He acquired tuberculosis while in Pollsmoor maximum security prison due to the poor condition of the cells.
The man of the people
While in prison, Mandela was offered certain conditions by the South African apartheid government in which he could be released but he refused because the release terms would not benefit his people for whose freedom he was struggling for. 
Conditions required for his release.
One of these terms was for Mandela to agree to the establishment of segregated black settlements which comprised only 13% of the vast South Africa lands. The other condition which the South Africa government recommended for Mandela was for him to abandon the use of violence (sabotage) targeted at government facilities and installations as a means of freedom fighting.
A life of sacrifice.
For sacrificing his personal ambitions for the freedom of all South Africans irrespective of race, Mandela became a hero whose release was beginning to be agitated for. He had the overwhelming support of the black and international antiapartheid communities and with calls for his release from prison frequently being orchestrated through campaigns, rallies and media outlets.
A long walk to Freedom: a freed Mandela, a liberated South Africa.
Due to global calls from almost all angles to free Mandela, the South Africa political terrain became boisterous with a lot of violence and killings coming into the pipeline. This aggravating situation mainly between 1983 and 1988 forced the South Africa government to reconsider the option of releasing Mandela from prison and to negotiate with him towards stabilizing the region. With no other option left, Mandela was freed from prison on 11 February 1990 by the South Africa apartheid government led by Frederik De Clerk after serving 27 years in Jail for human right activism.
His Noble Achievement.
Mandela achievements are plethora but one in particular should not be overlooked, that’s his ability to transition the existing apartheid government into a multiracial democratic government without sentiment, rancor, violence and repression. Right from his cell before his release, he had already made up his mind to put the past behind him and become the father of South Africa nation. He wrote ‘As I walked out of the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.’
President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
After Mandela’ release, he became the leader of the African National Congress (ANC) a party he had affiliated with in the 1960s. He met with members of ANC and other political faction for reconciliation toward a peaceful multi-party election which was held in April 1994. On May 10, 1994, Mandela was inaugurated as the first black president of a post-apartheid and multi-racial South Africa. 
Mandela‘s retirement Life
Unlike most African puppet presidents or head of governments, Mandela did not seek for a second term in office which he could easily go for since he was still popular. He decided to retire and devote his remaining life to social causes through the Nelson Mandela foundation. This is a pointer to his altruistic nature and positive view of others whom when given the chance could equally perform as presidents of South Africa. It was on this note that Thabo Mbeki, his deputy, took over the rein of affairs of the republic of South Africa via a democratic election.
And Madiba died
Nelson Mandela died on 5 December 2013 in Johannesburg from complication of respiratory tract infection. He was buried on a family graveyard called Mandela graveyard in Qunu where he had spent his childhood days. 
Lasting Legacy
Mandela was a successful lawyer, activist, politician, author, and philanthropist known for his internal resistance activities in the then apartheid South Africa and humanitarianism during his retirement age. As a writer, he would be remembered for his work: Long walk to freedom.
He won several awards during his life time including Sakharov in 1988, Bharat Ratna in 1990, Lenin peace prize in 1990, Nishan-e-Pakistan in 1992, Nobel peace prize in 1993 and presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002. He had many honorary citizenships from different countries, honorary degrees from several universities, and honorary memberships bestowed on him; roads were named after him in different countries and even a discovered nuclear particle from the University of Leeds was named after him in 1973, called Mandela Particle. During his life time, Mandela had over 250 prizes and these can be referred here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_honours_received_by_Nelson_Mandela
Synoptic quote
‘No race possesses the monopoly of beauty, intelligence and force, and there is room for all of us at the rendezvous of victory’ – Aimē Cesaire.
Conclusion
Apartheid is not a new phenomenon in the history of the black race. For centuries, the black peoples have suffered the worst forms of treatment in their own lands and in the Diasporas. They have been enslaved, sold like merchandise, exterminated and had their histories changed. Why? Because of the colour of their skins. The resilience through which Africans find their expression are the great African men and women, who were and are ready to die for the freedom of the black race. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was one of such beacons of light, who despite all manner of ill-treatments, resorted to loving the very people that treated him utterly bad. He will remain an indelible memory in the hearts of many generations and an inerasable mark in the annals of history.
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Reference
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nelson-Mandela/Incarceration
https://theworld.org/stories/2011-01-13/mandelas-village-south-africas-road-qunu
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela
https://theculturetrip.com/africa/south-africa/articles/10-freedom-fighters-who-completely-altered-south-africas-fate
http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~cale/cs201/apartheid.hist.html
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