Nelson Mandela: Biography, Imprisonment, Wives, and 67 Years of Service

Most people know Nelson Mandela as the man who walked free after 27 years in prison and became South Africa’s first black president. But behind that iconic story lies a complex personal life of three marriages, a 67-year public service journey that most readers misunderstand, and a legacy that continues to shape how the world thinks about forgiveness and justice.

Born: 18 July 1918, Mvezo, South Africa ·
Died: 5 December 2013, Johannesburg, South Africa ·
Presidency: 10 May 1994 – 14 June 1999 ·
Years in prison: 27 ·
Nobel Peace Prize: 1993 (shared with F.W. de Klerk) ·
Spouses: 3

The table below condenses ten key biographical data points into one pattern: Mandela’s life was a series of extreme contrasts — from prisoner to president, from three marriages to a global legacy of peace.

What is Nelson Mandela so famous for?

Nelson Mandela International Day

• In 2009, the United Nations declared 18 July as Nelson Mandela International Day (Biography.com).
• The day calls for 67 minutes of public service — one minute for each year Mandela devoted to activism (Britannica).

The implication: Mandela’s fame rests not just on his presidency but on the symbolic power of his personal sacrifice becoming a global call to action.

What did Mandela do for 67 years?

• The 67 years represent Mandela’s total public service from 1942 to 2009 (Biography.com).
• This period includes his early activism, 27 years in prison, his presidency, and post-presidency humanitarian work (BBC History).

The catch: Many people mistakenly believe Mandela spent 67 years in prison. The actual prison term was 27 years; the 67-year figure covers his entire public life.

The fight against apartheid

• Mandela joined the African National Congress in 1944 and co-founded its Youth League (South African Government).
• He led peaceful protest initially, then co-founded Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the ANC, in 1961 (Nelson Mandela Foundation).
• The apartheid regime classified Mandela as a terrorist; his imprisonment turned him into an international symbol of resistance (Britannica).

The pattern: Mandela’s fame stems from his ability to transform from militant activist to peace negotiator — a transition that made him controversial to some and heroic to millions.

What was Nelson Mandela jailed for?

The Rivonia Trial

• Mandela was arrested on 5 August 1962 and sentenced to five years for incitement and leaving the country without a passport (South African Government).
• In 1964, he was convicted of sabotage alongside seven co-accused in the Rivonia Trial and sentenced to life imprisonment (Nelson Mandela Foundation).
• His speech from the dock ended with: “I am prepared to die” (Britannica).

Life sentence and Robben Island

• Mandela spent 18 of his 27 prison years on Robben Island, from 1964 to 1982 (Wikipedia).
• Conditions were harsh: forced hard labor in a limestone quarry, tiny cells, and limited contact with the outside world (Nelson Mandela Foundation).
• He was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in 1982, then to Victor Verster Prison in 1988 before his release (Britannica).

The trade-off: Imprisonment gave Mandela moral authority that no political negotiation could have achieved — but it cost him decades with his family, including missing his mother’s and son’s funerals.

Release in 1990

• Mandela rejected conditional release offers from President P.W. Botha in 1985 (Nelson Mandela Foundation).
• He was finally released on 11 February 1990 after 27 years in prison (BBC History).
• His release was broadcast live worldwide; he walked hand-in-hand with Winnie Mandela (Nelson Mandela Foundation).

The implication: Mandela’s imprisonment made him a global icon. The 27 years behind bars became the crucible that forged his reputation as a reconciler, not a revolutionary — a narrative that the apartheid regime did not anticipate.

How many wives did Mandela have?

Evelyn Mase (1944–1958)

• Mandela married Evelyn Ntoko Mase in 1944 (Britannica).
• They had four children: Makgatho, Makaziwe (who died in infancy), and another daughter also named Makaziwe (Nelson Mandela Foundation).
• The marriage ended in divorce in 1958; Evelyn was a Jehovah’s Witness and reportedly struggled with Mandela’s political activism (Britannica).

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (1958–1996)

• Mandela married Winnie Madikizela on 14 June 1958 (Nelson Mandela Foundation).
• They had two daughters, Zenani and Zindziswa (Nelson Mandela Foundation).
• Winnie became a prominent anti-apartheid activist in her own right during Mandela’s imprisonment (Britannica).
• After Mandela’s release, the couple separated and divorced in 1996 (Nelson Mandela Foundation).

Graça Machel (1998–2013)

• Mandela married Graça Machel on 18 July 1998, his 80th birthday (Nelson Mandela Foundation).
• Graça Machel was the former First Lady of Mozambique, widow of Samora Machel (Britannica).
• She is an international advocate for children’s and women’s rights (Nelson Mandela Foundation).

The pattern: Mandela’s three marriages mirror the phases of his life — the stability of his early law career, the political partnership during imprisonment, and the statesman’s final chapter.

What are 5 facts about Mandela?

10 things you didn’t know about Nelson Mandela

• Mandela was the first in his family to attend school (South African Government).
• He studied law at the University of the Witwatersrand (Britannica).
• He co-founded the ANC Youth League in 1944 (Nelson Mandela Foundation).
• He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 alongside F.W. de Klerk (South African Government).
• He wrote his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, published in 1994 (Britannica).

Early life and education

• Born Rolihlahla Mandela on 18 July 1918 in Mvezo, Eastern Cape (South African Government).
• His given name “Rolihlahla” means “pulling the branch of a tree” — colloquially “troublemaker” (Britannica).
• A teacher gave him the English name “Nelson” on his first day of school (Nelson Mandela Foundation).
• He completed a BA at the University of Fort Hare but was expelled for participating in a student protest (South African Government).

Nobel Peace Prize and awards

• Mandela received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for his work in peacefully ending apartheid (South African Government).
• He received over 250 honors worldwide, including the US Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Soviet Lenin Peace Prize (Britannica).

The pattern: Five facts only scratch the surface. Mandela’s life encompassed student activist, political prisoner, Nobel laureate, and global statesman — a range that few individuals in modern history can match.

What did Nelson Mandela do for 67 years?

Early activism (1942–1962)

• Mandela joined the ANC in 1942 and co-founded the ANC Youth League in 1944 (Nelson Mandela Foundation).
• He was a leader in the Defiance Campaign of 1952, which involved nonviolent resistance to apartheid laws (South African Government).
• In 1956, he was among 156 activists arrested in the Treason Trial; all were acquitted by 1961 (Britannica).

Imprisonment (1962–1990)

• Mandela served 27 years in prison, from 1962 to 1990 (Nelson Mandela Foundation).
• During this period, he became an international symbol of resistance to apartheid (BBC History).
• While imprisoned, he secretly began writing his autobiography, which was smuggled out and later published as Long Walk to Freedom (Britannica).

Post-presidency and humanitarian work

• After stepping down in 1999, Mandela focused on charity work, including HIV/AIDS awareness through the Nelson Mandela Foundation (Nelson Mandela Foundation).
• He launched the 46664 campaign (named after his prison number) to fight HIV/AIDS (Biography.com).
• He also founded The Elders, a group of global leaders dedicated to peace and human rights (Britannica).

The implication: The 67 years of service frame Mandela’s entire adult life as one continuous mission — from student activist to elder statesman — with prison as a 27-year interruption, not the defining chapter.

Quotes from and about Nelson Mandela

“I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

— Nelson Mandela, Rivonia Trial speech, 1964 (Nelson Mandela Foundation)

“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”

— Nelson Mandela, on his release in 1990 (Britannica)

“Nelson Mandela showed us that one man’s courage can move the world. His commitment to peace and reconciliation remains a beacon for all of us.”

— Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General (United Nations)

“He achieved more than could be expected of any man. Today, his journey is complete — and we have lost one of the most influential, courageous, and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this earth.”

— Barack Obama, memorial service, 2013 (The White House)

The consequence for readers today: Mandela’s life poses a question that each generation must answer. For anyone who cares about justice, the choice is clear: act in your community for 67 minutes on 18 July, or let a legacy of sacrifice become just another date on the calendar.

Related reading: Nelson Mandela Foundation

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• Nelson Mandela Foundation