Well Known Leader

1. I was born in the village of Mvezo in South Africa on July 18, 1918.  My name means "troublemaker"


2. On the completion of my schooling I started a Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University College of Fort Hare.  I was expelled before completing the degree for joining in a student protest.  I later completed my degree through correspondence studies.


3.  To avoid an arranged marriage at home I went to Johannesburg in 1941 where I worked as a mine security officer briefly before starting my law articles with the law firm Witkin, Sidelsky and Eidelman


4.  In 1944 I married Evelyn Mase, a nurse. We had two sons and two daughters, the first of whom died in infancy. We were separated in 1955 and divorced in 1958.


5.  I became increasingly involved in politics from 1942, but only joined the African National Congress in 1944 when I helped formed the ANC Youth League.

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6.  In 1952 I was chosen at the National Volunteer-in-Chief of the Defiance Campaign against 6 unjust laws.  I was arrested and sentenced to 9 months hard labour, suspended for 2 years.  I was also banned for the first time.


7.  A two-year diploma in law allowed me to practice law and in August 1952 Oliver Tambo and I established South Africa’s first black law firm



8.  In June 1961 I was asked to lead an armed struggle which was called Umkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation).



9.  In October 1963 I joined 9 others on trial for sabotage in what became to be known as the 'Rivonia Trial'.  I was sentenced to life in prision and sent to Robben Island.


10.  I was released from prison on 11 February 1990, 9 days after the unbanning of the African National Congress and went on to win a Nobel Peace Price in 1993 with F.W. DeKlerk and became the first democratically elected president of South Africa in 1994

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References:
Person.org
Wikipedia