Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was an important figure in South Africa who helped to end apartheid. He was born on July 18, 1918 in the tiny African village of Mvezo. His father was a counsel to the Thembu king and Mandela was supposed to inherit this position. At the age of seven Nelson Mandela was the first became the first of his family to attend school where a Methodist teacher gave him the name Nelson. His father died …showed first 75 words of 459 total…

…showed last 75 words of 459 total…Nelson Mandela made a speech to his country declaring his commitment to peace. In 1994 South Africa had its first democratic elections open to everybody. The ANC won the majority in the election and Mandela as the leader of the ANC became the nation's first black president. After his retirement as president in 1999 Mandela went on to become an advocate for a variety of social and human rights organizations. Today he still is an important figure.