Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 in Umtata, South Africa and is a former President of South Africa, the first to be elected in a fully representative democratic elections. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist and leader of the African National Congress. He spent 27 years in prison, much of it on Robben Island, on convictions for crimes that included sabotage committed while he spearheaded the struggle against apartheid.
Following his release from prison in 11 February 1990, his switch to a policy of reconciliation and negotiation helped lead the transition to multi-racial democracy in South Africa. Since the end of apartheid, he has been widely praised, even by former opponents.
He received the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1993. He is currently a celebrated elder statesman who continues to voice his opinion on topical issues. In South Africa he is often known as Madiba, an honorary title adopted by elders of Mandela's clan. The title has come to be synonymous with Nelson Mandela.
Mandela has frequently credited Mahatma Gandhi for being a major source of inspiration in his life, both for the philosophy of non-violence and for facing adversity with dignity.
On 18 July 2007, Nelson Mandela, his wife Graca Machel, and Desmond Tutu convened a group of world leaders in Johannesburg to contribute their wisdom and independent leadership to address the world's toughest problems. Nelson Mandela announced the formation of this new group, The Elders, in a speech he delivered on the occasion of his 89th birthday.Archbishop Tutu will serve as the Chair of The Elders. The founding members of this group also include Graca Machel, Kofi Annan, Ela Bhatt, Gro Harlem Brundtland, Jimmy Carter, Li Zhaoxing, Mart Robinson, Mohammad Yunus and Aung San Suu Kyi.
Since his retirement, one of Mandela's primary commitments has been to the fight against AIDS. In 2003, he had already lent his support to the 46664 AIDS fundraising campaign, named after his prison number. Several concerts have been held, in effort to raise funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS, in Cape Town (South Africa), George (South Africa), Madrid (Spain), Tromsø (Norway), Johannesburg (South Africa) and London (England).
