Nelson Mandela essay

The first 200 words of this essay...

Tuesday 19th May 2009

NELSON MANDELA

His full name is Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. He was born in Transkei, South Africa on the 18th July 1918. His middle name 'Rolihlahla' means 'to pull a branch of a tree' or in a way that makes more sense' troublemaker'. Rolihlahla was the first person in his family to go to school, it is at school that his teacher gave him the English name 'Nelson'.

Mandelas Mother was Nosekeni Fanny. Nelson's father was chief of the town of Mvezo which is a small village in the Umtata district, the family would later be moved to Qunu because his father position was taken from him. His father remained a member of the Inkosi's Privy council.

Mandela's father died of tuberculosis when Mandela was only nine years old. Mandela was informally adopted by Dalindyebo after his father's death. His father had four wives and thirteen children.

Mandela went to a Wesleyan mission school. Following Thembu tradition, he was 'initiated' when he was sixteen years old. He went on to attend Clarkebury boarding institute. Nelson was set to inherit his fathers position as a Privy counsellor so he moved to Healdtown, the Wesleyan