Mandela, Nelson

(1918-2013) Lawyer, activist, politician, president of the ANC, first President of the post-Apartheid South Africa and international pacifist and icon.

Born on July 18, 1918, in Mvezo, Transkei, South Africa and died on December 5, 2013, in Houghton Estate, Johannesburg.

Education: Clarkebury Boarding Institute, Wesleyan College; University College of Fort Hare; University of London; University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

For a detailed biography, see the many biographies on the internet and his book The Long Walk to Freedom.

Mandela as performer

In his youth he once did some modeling for **, and appeared in the film ***.

He later also had a brief cameo role in Spike Lee's Malcolm X (1992), playing a teacher in Soweto.

However, the true impact of his natural theatrical bent, is seen in his fine use of the dramatic potential of social and public events for spreading a message and influencing people. For example, he was extremely fond of sport, and boxed a little when he was studying at Fort Hare, going on to some more serious boxing as a heavyweight at the Donaldson Orlando Community Centre in Soweto in the 1950s. This interest led to his effective use of the theatrical potential of sporting events for greater political and social purposes, notably the iconic moments during the 1995 Rugby World Cup victory - as explored in the film Invictus.

Another memorable moments in this respect came with his dramatic walk to freedom on his release from Victor Verster prison; and some years later his spectacular inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa. Both are still, like the world cup event, considered to be among the major and most influential public performances (theatrical events) of the twentieth century, analyzed by many commentators over the years - perhaps only rivalled by the international outpouring of grief and respect at his passing in December 2013.