Madiba By : Snejana Cilia

Nelson Mandela was the most famous prisoner in the world. He is probably also the most famous grandfather in the world! Nelson Mandela was a country boy and he lived in a small village near the Indian Ocean. He lived in a beehive shaped hut together with his three sisters and mother.

He was five when he became a herd boy. He looked after sheep and cows. He played with his friends “tag” and “hide-and-seek”. The winters were cold, so sometimes he wore a blanket. He liked to drink warm milk straight from the cow. He went to school at the age of seven. His father was the chief of the village and he wanted his son to prosper. As the family did not have any clothes for Mandela to wear for school. So his father cut down a pair of his own trousers and tied them with a string around Mandela’s tummy to hold them up. He went to Methodist Church school and began to learn English

The school teacher have each black child an English name. So Mandela became Nelson and he retained this name until his death. After his father fell ill and died he was called by the Regent to work at the Royal Palace.

During his employment with the Regent, Mandela learnt many things. However, he became more and more interested in the plight of his people. The Regent liked Mandela because he was a hardworking employee, always carried his weight and ironed the Regents trousers perfectly. The Regent helped Mandela tremendously. He first sent him to boarding school, then to University and also found him a wife. People say that Mandela always dressed fashionably.

As he was only 22 years old he did not want to marry. Naturally, the Regent was very cross with him. Therefore Mandela had to leave the employment with the Regent. There was a time when people thought of Mandela as being a troublemaker. He learned to box and remained committed to fight for his people. Because of his beliefs he was sent to prison. He remained imprisoned for 27 years. During his prison term he married his wife Winnie. Winnie and Mandela separated soon after Mandela was later released from Prison. After Mandela was released from prison he continued to fight for his people. His people also made him President of South Africa soon after.

Nelson Mandela won the Nobel Peace Price. He was an icon and respected by many world leaders. Unfortunately he died in December 2013.