Nelson Mandela- Early Years

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As a member of the Madiba clan and of the royal family of the Thembu people, Rolihlaha Dalibunga Mandela was born on July 18^th in 1918. His name, Rolihlaha, actually means, “pulling a branch of a tree” or “trouble maker.” He was born in the tiny village of Mvezo and on the banks of the river Mbashe. His hometown was considered a peaceful farming village between the Cape and Natal. Mandela’s birth brought great celebration in Mvezo. His mother Nosekeni Fanny, and his father Gadla Hendry Mandela were members of the Xhosa nation where Gadla was a respected chief.

When Mandela was a young child, his father had a dispute between the white authorities and lost his position as chief as well as his belongings, such as cattle and home. Therefore Mandela’s family was forced to move to the nearby village of Qunu where Mandela lived with his uncles, aunties, and half brothers and sisters. He also spent time tending herds as a cattle-boy, spending much time outside with other boys. At the age of seven Mandela was sent to the Wesleyan church and was educated in the one room mission school. When Mandela first arrived at school, his teacher had a difficult time pronouncing his real name, so he was given the English name, Nelson.

In 1927, Gadla Hendry Mandela died of lung disease. On account of this tragedy Mandela was placed under the custody of Jongintiba, the chief of the Thembu who sought to forge Mandela into a traditional African male. This was done similar to a circumcision method for the African people where he was given the middle name Dalibunga. Academically, Mandela thrived in middle and high school and was enrolled at Fort Hare University.

At Fort Hare, Mandela’s guardian had an arranged marriage set, but an unsatisfied Mandela fled to Johannesburg to escape the marriage and work as a guard at Crown Mines. At the mines, Mandela observed and witnessed the true brutality of apartheid on non-whites in South Africa. Later Mandela was fired from the mines but luckily encountered Walter Sisilu, who employed Mandela as a law clerk. Returning to Fort Hare Mandela studied english, anthropology, politics, native administration and Roman Dutch law in his first year, desiring to become an interpreter or clerk in the Native Affairs Department. After meeting Sisilu, Mandela joined the ANC After receiving a bachelor of arts degree at Fort Hare, Mandela sought a law degree at the University of Witwatersrand. There he was introduced to politically active whites and racist lecturers whom Mandela did not like. Therefore Mandela left without a law degree and met Oliver Tambo at Fort Hare university. With Tambo’s help, together they opened the first black legal service providing cheap council for blacks that lack legal representation. “Mandela and Tambo”(The name of the firm) delt with many scenarios of apartheid, and helped support the breaches of “whites only” property.

In 1956 Mandela, as well as other political activists are charged with high treason. The government accused Mandela of supposedly trying to overthrow the South African state. After a long 4 year trial the charges were finally dropped.  Four years later an outbreak of police violence struck against black protesters by the police killing 69 people, including women and children. This resulted in new laws that inhibited blacks freedom of movement, and after a small decline the African National Congress was banned. In 1962 Mandela, as president of the ANC flew to London to meet with Oliver Tambo. As he spends a year underground, he was finally caught and arrested.