---

Nelson Mandela (1918- ) is famous for his work to end apartheid. Born in South Africa, Mandela joined the African National Congress in 1944. In 1948, the South African government started apartheid and outlawed the ANC itself twelve years later. In 1962, Mandela was accused and convicted of treason, and was given a life sentence. His wife Winnie lobbied for his release, which came in 1990 and after succeeding in getting the laws relating to apartheid repealed in 1990 and 1991, Mandela ried for a national election where all races were elegible vote. The first such election was held in April 1994, and Nelson Mandela was then elected the country's first black president. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

---