Nelson Mandela, born on July 18, 1918, in South Africa, was a prominent anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician who served as the country's first black president from 1994 to 1999. He spent 27 years in prison for his activism against the apartheid regime but emerged as a symbol of peace, reconciliation, and unity. Mandela's efforts to end racial segregation and promote equality earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. He passed away on December 5, 2013, leaving behind a legacy of courage and resilience in the fight against injustice.