Nelson Mandela: His Life in Pictures

Mar. 15, 2025

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BOY LEADER

I.D.A.F./SIPA

02of 19MAN OF ACTIONAPI/Gamma-Rapho/GettyMandela’s activism started early; in 1940 he was expelled from the University of Fort Hare after organizing a strike to protest limitations placed on the student council. He headed to Johannesburg, where he earned a job at a legal firm, started working on his law degree and met and married his first wife, Evelyn Ntoko Mase, with whom he had four children.

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MAN OF ACTION

API/Gamma-Rapho/Getty

Mandela’s activism started early; in 1940 he was expelled from the University of Fort Hare after organizing a strike to protest limitations placed on the student council. He headed to Johannesburg, where he earned a job at a legal firm, started working on his law degree and met and married his first wife, Evelyn Ntoko Mase, with whom he had four children.

03of 19A SECOND MARRIAGEOFF/AFP/GettyDuring his time in Johannesburg, Mandela met 20-year-old social worker Nomzamo Winnie Madikizela. “I cannot say for certain if there is such a thing as love at first sight,” he wrote in his 1994 autobiography. “But I do know that the moment I first glimpsed Winnie Nomzamo, I knew that I wanted to have her as my wife.” He divorced Evelyn in 1955 and married Winnie three years later, welcoming daughters with her in 1958 and 1960.

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A SECOND MARRIAGE

OFF/AFP/Getty

During his time in Johannesburg, Mandela met 20-year-old social worker Nomzamo Winnie Madikizela. “I cannot say for certain if there is such a thing as love at first sight,” he wrote in his 1994 autobiography. “But I do know that the moment I first glimpsed Winnie Nomzamo, I knew that I wanted to have her as my wife.” He divorced Evelyn in 1955 and married Winnie three years later, welcoming daughters with her in 1958 and 1960.

04of 19THE FIGHT BEGINSAPI/Gamma-Rapho/GettyIn December 1956, Mandela and more than 150 other activists were arrested and charged with treason for staging strikes and protests in opposition to South Africa’s apartheid (enforced racial segregation) laws. The trial lasted five years and ended in an acquittal.

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THE FIGHT BEGINS

In December 1956, Mandela and more than 150 other activists were arrested and charged with treason for staging strikes and protests in opposition to South Africa’s apartheid (enforced racial segregation) laws. The trial lasted five years and ended in an acquittal.

05of 19THE ORGANIZERAPI/Gamma-Rapho/GettyMandela didn’t go quietly, however; he disappeared underground and formed a military wing of the left-leaning African National Congress, helping to stage bombings on power plants, rail lines and other such targets when civilians weren’t present. Eluding authorities for a while, he was eventually captured and, in June 1964, convicted of sabotage and treason and sentenced to life in prison.

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THE ORGANIZER

Mandela didn’t go quietly, however; he disappeared underground and formed a military wing of the left-leaning African National Congress, helping to stage bombings on power plants, rail lines and other such targets when civilians weren’t present. Eluding authorities for a while, he was eventually captured and, in June 1964, convicted of sabotage and treason and sentenced to life in prison.

06of 19PRISONER 46664Dave Hogan/GettyIn the beginning of his stay at Robben Island (left), a facility for political detainees, Mandela, prisoner 46664, did hard labor, breaking rocks into gravel for roads and completing tasks in the island’s limestone quarry. After 18 years at Robben, Mandela was moved to the suburban Cape Town Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison in 1982, then to low-security Victor Verster Prison in the Western Cape in 1988.

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PRISONER 46664

Dave Hogan/Getty

In the beginning of his stay at Robben Island (left), a facility for political detainees, Mandela, prisoner 46664, did hard labor, breaking rocks into gravel for roads and completing tasks in the island’s limestone quarry. After 18 years at Robben, Mandela was moved to the suburban Cape Town Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison in 1982, then to low-security Victor Verster Prison in the Western Cape in 1988.

07of 19FREE AT LASTUlli Michel/LandovOn Feb. 11, 1990, 71-year-old Mandela was freed from prison after serving 27 years. South African president F. W. de Klerk was in part responsible for the decision, after taking office and reversing the ban on the African National Congress and other anti-apartheid organizations. Mandela’s release was broadcast live around the world.

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FREE AT LAST

Ulli Michel/Landov

On Feb. 11, 1990, 71-year-old Mandela was freed from prison after serving 27 years. South African president F. W. de Klerk was in part responsible for the decision, after taking office and reversing the ban on the African National Congress and other anti-apartheid organizations. Mandela’s release was broadcast live around the world.

08of 19A GLOBAL ICONDavid Levenson/GettyThree years after his release, Mandela received a Nobel Peace Prize in conjunction with de Klerk, in recognition of their efforts to avoid a South African civil war, joining forces to calm fears and relieve racial tensions. There was, however, tension at home; Mandela and Winnie separated in 1992 and eventually divorced in 1996.

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A GLOBAL ICON

David Levenson/Getty

Three years after his release, Mandela received a Nobel Peace Prize in conjunction with de Klerk, in recognition of their efforts to avoid a South African civil war, joining forces to calm fears and relieve racial tensions. There was, however, tension at home; Mandela and Winnie separated in 1992 and eventually divorced in 1996.

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ETCHED IN HISTORY

Patrick de Noirmont /Landov

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PRESIDENT MANDELA

Philip Littleton/Getty

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THE KING & I

Sipiwe Mhlambi/AP

12of 19SPICING IT UPJohn Stillwell/APAnother friend?Prince Charles, who joinedPrince Harry(not pictured), Mandela and the then-exploding Spice Girls at the presidential residence in Johannesburg prior to a 1997 concert. “These are my heroes,” Mandelasaid of the girl-power pop group. Other famous faces who became pals include Stevie Wonder and Danny Glover, who, along with Jackson, attend Mandela’s 1998 wedding to third wife Graça Machel, widow of Mozambique president and African National Congress ally Samora Machel.

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SPICING IT UP

John Stillwell/AP

Another friend?Prince Charles, who joinedPrince Harry(not pictured), Mandela and the then-exploding Spice Girls at the presidential residence in Johannesburg prior to a 1997 concert. “These are my heroes,” Mandelasaid of the girl-power pop group. Other famous faces who became pals include Stevie Wonder and Danny Glover, who, along with Jackson, attend Mandela’s 1998 wedding to third wife Graça Machel, widow of Mozambique president and African National Congress ally Samora Machel.

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FEELING THE PEACE

Richard Young/REX USA

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POWER COUPLE

Juda Ngwenya/Landov

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STRONG VOICES

Jon Furniss/WireImage

16of 19PARTY PEOPLERichard Young/Rex USAMandela’s 90th birthday dinner in Hyde Park, London, on June 25, 2008, was a who’s-who of politicians from around the world. But it also included some high-wattage Hollywood stars (and close friends), most notablyWill Smithand wife Jada Pinkett and Denzel Washington and wife Pauletta.

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PARTY PEOPLE

Richard Young/Rex USA

Mandela’s 90th birthday dinner in Hyde Park, London, on June 25, 2008, was a who’s-who of politicians from around the world. But it also included some high-wattage Hollywood stars (and close friends), most notablyWill Smithand wife Jada Pinkett and Denzel Washington and wife Pauletta.

17of 19RESILIENT AS EVERMike Hewitt/Fifa/GettyAfter stepping down from office, Mandela curtailed public appearances and focused on family and his charity, theNelson Mandela Foundation. He also battled myriad health problems, including prostate cancer in 2001, an acute respiratory infection in 2011 and a lung infection in 2012 and 2013. But he managed to attend the closing ceremonies of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, earning a lengthy standing ovation.

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RESILIENT AS EVER

Mike Hewitt/Fifa/Getty

After stepping down from office, Mandela curtailed public appearances and focused on family and his charity, theNelson Mandela Foundation. He also battled myriad health problems, including prostate cancer in 2001, an acute respiratory infection in 2011 and a lung infection in 2012 and 2013. But he managed to attend the closing ceremonies of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, earning a lengthy standing ovation.

18of 19A ‘MOVING’ MOMENTDebbie Yazbek/APDuring a goodwill trip to South Africa and Botswana in 2011, first ladyMichelle Obamaand daughters Sasha and Malia spent 20 minutes at home with Mandela, then 92, and his wife, following a visit to his foundation. Obamacalled the experience"the most moving part" of her trip abroad. Two years later, on Mandela’s 95th birthday, the Obamasreleased a statementcongratulating the leader on the milestone and asking people to honor him through acts of service.

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A ‘MOVING’ MOMENT

Debbie Yazbek/AP

During a goodwill trip to South Africa and Botswana in 2011, first ladyMichelle Obamaand daughters Sasha and Malia spent 20 minutes at home with Mandela, then 92, and his wife, following a visit to his foundation. Obamacalled the experience"the most moving part" of her trip abroad. Two years later, on Mandela’s 95th birthday, the Obamasreleased a statementcongratulating the leader on the milestone and asking people to honor him through acts of service.

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DAYS GONE BY

Christopher Furlong/Getty

source: people.com