Nelson Mandela is one of the most inspiring leaders of the 20th century. He was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist who fought for equality and justice for his people. Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, ismall village in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. His father was a local chief, and Nelson was destined to follow in his footsteps. However, his life took a different turn when he moved to Johannesburg and became involved in the struggle against apartheid. Mandela received his education at a Methodist school, where he was given the name Nelson. He went on to study law at the University of Witwatersrand, but he was forced to leave before completing his degree due to his political activities. In 1948, the National Party came to power in South Africa, and they introduced a system of apartheid, which separated the races and gave white people all the power and privileges. Mandela became involved in the anti-apartheid movement and joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944. Mandela's activism led to his arrest and imprisonment several times, and he spent a total of 27 years in jail. Despite the harsh conditions, Mandela never lost hope, and he continued to fight for the rights of his people. In 1990, Mandela was released from prison, and he became a symbol of hope and change for South Africa. He negotiated with the government and worked to end apartheid and establish a democratic and equal society. In 1994, South Africa held its first democratic elections, and Mandela was elected as the country's first black president.