12 Facts About Nelson Mandela You Should Know As The World Marks His Anniversary.

As the world marks and celebrates Nelson Mandela’s 100^th birthday here are some facts you need to know about him.

•    Nelson Mandela was the first black president of South Africa from 1994-1999 and the first president elected after the end of apartheid, an extensive system of segregation and discrimination based on race.
•        Mandela’s real first name is Rolihlahla, meaning "pulling the branch of a tree" or "troublemaker." He was given the name Nelson by a teacher because, in the early 20th century, South African children were often given English names due to the colonial presence in the country.
•      For over 20 years, Mandela worked for the African National Congress, the opposition party that advocated for black civil and human rights under apartheid.
•     Mandela's father, Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela, died from lung disease. Nelson was 12 years old at the time. 
•      Mandela was then raised by a Thembu regent, Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo, for whom his father was an adviser. The Thembu people traditionally reside in the eastern part of South Africa.  
•     Mandela often disguised himself to escape being arrested for his political activity, dressing like a fieldworker or a chef to evade the police.
•     Dressed as a chauffeur, Mandela was arrested on August 5, 1962 for inciting strikes and leaving the country without permission. He would be in jail until 1990, serving time in multiple prisons including Robben Island, where he spent 18 years. 9. In prison, Mandela lived in a small cell without a bed or plumbing, forced to do hard labor in a limestone quarry during the day.
•   His work in the quarry permanently damaged Mandela’s eyes, injuring his tear glands so severely that the leader could not produce tears later in life.
•     Mandela earned his bachelor of law degree from the University of South Africa while imprisoned.
•      Mandela had six children: Madiba, Makaziwe, Magkatho, Pumla, Zenani and Zindzi. He also had 17 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. He had three sisters, three half-brothers and six half-sisters.  
•       Three of Mandela’s children have died. Madiba died of a car accident at 24, Makaziwe died in infancy and Magkatho died of HIV/AIDS complications at 55.
•       Mandela enjoyed many sports growing up. He was an avid boxer and long-distance runner from a young age. Mandela particularly enjoyed boxing because it offered everyone an equal chance to participate. In "Long Walk to Freedom", he said, “Boxing is egalitarian. In the ring, rank, age, color and wealth are irrelevant.”