character sketech of Nelson Mandela.
Answers
Rolihlahla Mandela was born into the Madiba clan in the village of Mvezo, in the Eastern Cape, on 18 July 1918. His mother was Nonqaphi Nosekeni and his father was Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela, principal counsellor to the Acting King of the Thembu people, Jongintaba Dalindyebo. In 1930, when he was 12 years old, his father died and the young Rolihlahla became a ward of Jongintaba at the Great Place in Mqhekezweni1.
Hearing the elders’ stories of his ancestors’ valour during the wars of resistance, he dreamed also of making his own contribution to the freedom struggle of his people.
He attended primary school in Qunuwhere his teacher, Miss Mdingane, gave him the name Nelson, in accordance with the custom of giving all schoolchildren “Christian” names.
He completed his Junior Certificate at Clarkebury Boarding Institute and went on to Healdtown, a Wesleyan secondary school of some repute, where he matriculated.
Mandela began his studies for a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University College of Fort Hare but did not complete the degree there as he was expelled for joining in a student protest.
In April 2007 his grandson, Mandla Mandela, was installed as head of the Mvezo Traditional Council at a ceremony at the Mvezo Great Place.
Nelson Mandela never wavered in his devotion to democracy, equality and learning. Despite terrible provocation, he never answered racism with racism. His life is an inspiration to all who are oppressed and deprived; and to all who are opposed to oppression and deprivation.
He died at his home in Johannesburg on 5 December 2013.
The strongest characteristic of Nelson Mandela would be defiance. I think that his activist stance against Apartheid policies demonstrates this. It is proven with his incarceration for decades. During this time, he never recanted or withdrew his beliefs. Despite harsh interrogation tactics and enhanced treatment by his captors, he never wavered. His ability to emerge from this confinement and, essentially, "outlast" Apartheid cements the defiant trait. It is also interesting that he emerges from captivity at a time when we were also beginning to listen to other voices and integrate them into our tapestry of what existence is and how it is incumbent on the success of democratic experiments everywhere to hear as many voices as possible. Mandela's release coincides with the growth of emerging democracies and new voices being heard around the world. I think this is the greatest evidence in how the characteristic of defiance is critical to the success of democracy and testimony to our greatest capacities as human beings.