Mandela was born on July 18,1918, in Mvezo, a small village south of Umtata, the capital of Transkei, a South African province. His father, Henry Gadla Mandela was a Xhosa (South African tribe) chief. His Mother, a woman of dignity and stature, was named Nonqaphi. Mandela spent most of his childhood playing games with other children. Several years after his birth, his father suddenly died. One of his fathers's friends the Thembu regent (chief of the …showed first 75 words of 748 total…

…showed last 75 words of 748 total…to speak out against apartheid. Many years of civil disobedience by blacks went by. The all-white government simply ignored their protests. Eventually, the blacks turned to violence. Finally, in 1990, apartheid was abolished. In 1994, the first free elections were held. Nelson Mandela, leader of the African National Congress was elected president of South Africa. A new constitution was adopted, giving equal rights to all people. After 50 years of apartheid, there was finally peace in South Africa.