Mandela’s tribal nickname is “Rolihlahla,” meaning “Troublemaker.”
Other accounts translate Rolihlalhla to mean “to pull a branch from a tree,” which, of course, is something only a troublemaker would do. It was his teacher, Miss Mdingane, who gave him the English name “Nelson,” much to the relief of journalists everywhere when he became famous.
Nelson’s father was a village chief
Mandela’s father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was made chief and councilor- to- the -monarch of the Thembu people in the village of Mvezo (where Nelson was born), in 1915. In 1926, his title was revoked after charges of corruption, although Nelson later claimed it was because he stood up for himself against ridiculous demands.
First of his family to attend school
At age 9, after his father’s death, Rolihlahla was placed in the school where he was deemed “Nelson.” He attended high school at Healdtown Methodist Boarding School, and blazed the trail for the first time ever–no one in his family had ever made it so far academically.
Mandela was expelled from university after less than a year.
After finishing boarding school, Mandela headed to Fort Hare Missionary College. Less than 12 months later, he was expelled from college for helping to organize a strike against the white colonial rule of the institution. One might call this foreshadowing.
Mandela set up the first all-black law firm in South Africa
With his legal partner, Oliver Tambo, Mandela provided cheap legal services to blacks who were suffering the ramifications of Apartheid law. When blacks were charged with breaching laws like mis-stepping into white-only areas or drinking from the same water fountain, they faced the mercy of being charged more money, and unfair punishments. Mandela’s Johannesburg office was welcoming arms.
Before Mandela championed peace…
He was a firm advocate for armed struggle against the brutality of the Apartheid system after initial non-violent protests (like the Sharpeville Massacre) failed. In 1961, Mandela set up the Umkonto We Sizwe (“Spearhead of the Nation”, or “MK”), the armed wing of the African National Congress. Held responsible for at least 63 deaths on account of multiple bombings, the group was deemed a terrorist organization by the United States and South Africa.
Silver screen Nelson
Ever seen the Spike Lee joint “Do the Right Thing”? Well, it’s Nelson Mandela’s only film role, even though we know his persuasion chops could have at least landed him a Hollywood career. It’s blink-and-you-miss-it, but here is the clip. Mandela plays an inspiring schoolteacher in Soweto, South Africa. Take a look!
His costume the night Mandela was arrested
After pretty much playing cat-and-mouse with Apartheid officials (his previous disguises included a fieldworker and a chef), Mandela was finally arrested in 1962, driving an Austin Westminster (above) with his comrade Cecil Williams. He was dressed as a chauffeur, and was on his way to an ANC meeting. 27 years later, Mandela saw free ground again.
Mandela rejected being freed
In 1985, State President P.W. Botha offered Mandela conditional release from his prison term. Contingent upon this was his renouncing of violence and violent protest. Mandela refused in a statement delivered by his daughter Zinzi. “It was only when all other forms of resistance were no longer open to us that we turned to armed struggle.”
The United Nations decreed his birthday as Mandela Day.
In 2009, the U.N. declared Mandela’s birthday, July 18, as Mandela Day to mark his contribution to world freedom. The holiday calls on individuals to donate 67 minutes to doing something for others, reflecting the 67 years that Mandela had been a part of the anti-apartheid movement.
Mandela is often referred to as Madiba, his Xhosa clan name
Mandela was a member of the Thembu, a Xhosa clan, and was often referred to by his clan name, Madiba. It is a sign of the incredible diversity of people and languages in South Africa. The country has 11 different official languages.
Mandela’s father had four wives, and Nelson is one of 13 children.
Mandela’s father, a local chief and councellor to the Thembu king, died from tuberculosis when his son was 9. Before that, he fathered 13 children by four wives, four boys and nine girls. After his father’s death, Mandela was put under the guardianship of Jongintaba, the Thembu regent.
Mandela has received more than 250 awards for his accomplishments.
Among these awards is the shared 1993 Nobel Peace Prize with F.W. de Klerk, the last president of the apartheid government of South Africa (he too is widely credited as an instrumental force in ending apartheid). Additionally, Mandela had received more than 50 honorary degrees from international universities worldwide, became the first honorary Canadian citizen in 2001, and received the last Lenin Peace Prize from the Soviet Union.
Stevie Wonder dedicated his 1985 Oscar for “I Just Called to Say I Love You” to Mandela.
After Stevie accepted his award in honor of Nelson Mandela, the government-owned South African Broadcasting Corporation banned Stevie’s music from the airways. It wasn’t until Mandela was elected in 1994 that Stevie was finally allowed back in South Africa.
Mandela outlived his two oldest sons.
Mandela had six children, but tragically lost his two oldest sons. Thembi died in a car crash at age 25. Mandela was in prison at the time of the death and was unable to attend the funeral. Another son died of AIDS in 2005 at age 54. While Mandela’s administration was criticized for not doing enough to fight the AIDS epidemic in South Africa, he established the Nelson Mandela Foundation in 1999 following his retirement to help fight the spread of AIDS.
Mandela ran away from home at age of 19.
When his guardian tried to arrange a marriage, Mandela ran away from home in 1941 and headed to Johannesburg. He began to work as a night watchman at Crown Mines, but was fired after it was discovered that he was the Thembu regent’s runaway.
Mandela spent his first night after being freed from prison in Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s home.
Tutu had his helpers prepare his own favorite meal of chicken curry, rice and green salad, followed by rum raisin ice cream and custard.
