19 July 2008

Happy birthday!


Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is a former President of South Africa, the first to be elected in fully representative democratic elections. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist and leader of the African National Congress and its armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe. He spent 27 years in prison, much of it on Robben Island, on convictions for crimes that included sabotage committed while he spearheaded the struggle against apartheid.
Mandela has received more than one hundred awards over four decades, most notably the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. He is currently a celebrated elder statesman who continues to voice his opinion on topical issues. In South Africa he is often known as Madiba, an honorary title adopted by elders of Mandela's clan. The title has come to be synonymous with Nelson Mandela.
Mandela has frequently credited Mahatma Gandhi for being a major source of inspiration in his life, both for the philosophy of non-violence and for facing adversity with dignity.
He was born on 18th July. Happy Birthday!

2 comments:

Madalena said...

May I join this special greeting?
We all feel so honoured to belong to the same time of this great man! Happy birthday Mr Mandela!

Unknown said...

Yes. It is a true pleasure to be alive at the same time that Nelson Mandela!