Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (1918–2013) was a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician who became South Africa's first black president, serving from 1994 to 1999. Born into the Thembu royal family near Mvezo, South Africa, Mandela studied law and co-founded the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League. He emerged as a leader in the struggle against apartheid, initially advocating non-violent protest, before co-founding the militant group Umkhonto we Sizwe to fight against the apartheid regime. Mandela was arrested and imprisoned for 27 years, mostly on Robben Island, for conspiring to overthrow the apartheid government. Released in 1990 amid growing domestic and international pressure, he helped negotiate the end of apartheid and led his party to victory in South Africa's first fully democratic, multiracial elections in 1994. As president, Mandela focused on racial reconciliation, social justice, and economic reforms, founding the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address past human rights abuses. He remains an iconic figure globally, revered for his leadership in democracy, equality, and reconciliation, earning numerous honors including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. Mandela also worked on combating poverty and HIV/AIDS after his retirement from politics, becoming a respected elder statesman often called "Madiba," his clan name, and the "Father of the Nation" in South Africa.