9 Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know About Nelson Mandela
Of all his 95 years, Mandela struggled 67 years for the political, social, and economic rights of black South Africans.
Who would have thought that a child will be born on 18th July 1918 in a small village Mvezo, South Africa, who would rise into a man and would lead his nation to a sunlit path of justice and equality? Who would have thought that the man will end the long night of captivity, segregation, discrimination, and the institutional apartheid government that crippled his people’s rise in every sphere of life?
That man was Nelson Mandela who saw that the system is unjust and needs to be changed. He stood up against it bravely and gave his 67 years of life struggling without any single thought of regret to free his people from the bondage of racism, sexism, politics, and economics that robbed them of their South African spirit of unity, prosperity, and democracy.
He was a famous South African politician, philanthropist, and anti-apartheid revolutionary, who spent 27 years of imprisonment during his struggle for the political emancipation of his people. He was finally released on 11th February 1990 and in the first general democratic election of South Africa in 1994; he became the first South Africa black president.
He was an influential leader and an outstanding personality known to the world for his services to humanity. Still, the personalities of such people are so diverse that we don’t know certain aspects of their lives.
Here are nine interesting facts you probably didn’t know about Nelson Mandela.
1. His name was not Nelson
His birth name was Rolihlahla, a typical name of his Xhosa tribe, which means the troublemaker. However, his elementary school teacher changed his name to Nelson on the very first day.
It is unclear why his name was changed but in the 1920s, the English colonial master would find it hard to pronounce African names; hence African children were given English names to make it easy in pronunciation for the British masters.
2. He was named “the Black Pimpernel,”
Owing to his political activities against the apartheid government, he was always on the run to elude authorities.
He could disguise himself in any person to trick government authorities and for his mastery in disguise, the press named him as “the Black Pimpernel.” He wrote about the necessity of his disguise in his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom thus:
“I became a creature of the night. I would keep to my hideout during the day, and would emerge to do my work when it became dark.”
3. He was offered a cameo in a Spike Lee film
Once Mandela was offered a cameo in Spike Lee’s film Malcolm X in1992. His role was to recite Malcolm X’s famous speech to Soweto school kids at the end of the movie. But owing to his pacifist nature, he declined to say the phrase “by any means necessary” that compelled Lee to close the film without the speech.
4. He married Graça Machel, a first lady
Mandela tied the marriage knot on his 80th birthday with the first lady, Graça Machel, former wife of Mozambique President Samora Machel. When her husband died, she married Mandela in 1998; thus becoming the first lady of two nations.
5. Mandela’s the subject of unusual tributes
Owing to his famous political stature, many streets and roads are named after him around the world.
But some unusual tributes are associated with him. Recently, scientists gave his name to a pre-historic woodpecker: Australopicus nelsonmandelai. The physics department of Leeds University also named a nuclear particle after him in 1973 as “Mandela Particle”.
6. Mandela relished traditional African meals
He dined with the world’s greatest leaders but, unlike ordinary folks, who would like to taste luxurious food, Mandela relished traditional African meals a lot. He took great pleasure and felt a sense of personal renewal while eating typical African dishes that are served across African cultures.
7. The US put him on the terror watch list
The USA put him and other prominent members of the African National Congress on the US terror watch list because of their militant involvement against the South African apartheid government. The US removed his name from the terror watch list in 2008 when he was 89 years of age.
8. Mandela had a dominant passion for boxing
Mandela was not only fascinated by politics but had also a dominant passion for boxing. He would wake at 5 am and would train for boxing. He started boxing at Fort Hare University when he was a student. He has expressed his view about boxing in his autobiography:
“I did not like the violence of boxing. I was more interested in the science of it — how you move your body to protect yourself, how you use a plan to attack and retreat, and how you pace yourself through a fight.”
9. He drew his lifelong inspiration from the poem “Invictus”
Mandela was an inspirational person himself and had led thousands of people into attaining their political and social emancipation. However, he was also inspired by a poem.
During his prison, he would often recite the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley to his fellow prisoners. He was inspired by this poem because it reflected his personality and resonated with his willpower. You may have heard Morgan Freeman reciting the poem playing his role as Mandela in the film Invictus.
Poem by William Ernest Henley (1849–1903) which inspired Mandela:
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
Wrapping it up
Nelson Mandela is known worldwide for his services to humanity. He was a staunch believer in the equality of humans devoid of race, color, political, or social status. He was honored with many accolades and awards all over the world. His life is a beacon of light to many who are dejected and have lost their purpose in life. His life has been documented in various movies and books. Men like him were seldom born in centuries.
