Nelson Mandela: 33 Years of Freedom

Celebrating Madiba's return

In collaboration with

The Nelson Mandela Foundation

and 4 more collections

What happened on 11 February 1990?

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Relive the Iconic Day Mandela was Released from Prison

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12 Important Moments After Mandela's Release

Photographer Gideon Mendel captures pivotal moments in history

A new era for South Africa

Africa is Ours! Mandela's Iconic Speech

Read the inspiring words delivered at Cape Town City Hall

Get your facts right

20 Things You Need to Know About Nelson Mandela

What does the name Madiba mean?

"Amandla! Amandla! i-Afrika, mayibuye! My friends, comrades and fellow South Africans, I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy and freedom for all."- Nelson Mandela

Thirty years on

Meet the people carrying on Mandela's legacy

Gender equality and women's rights

Activist Zulaikha Patel on Growing Up in the 2000s in South Africa

Democracy and Freedom for all

Talk Show Host Songezo Mabece on What Mandela's Release Meant For The Community

Leadership and knowledge

Archivist Verne Harris on Keeping Madiba's Memory Alive

Test your knowledge

Quiz: How Well Do You Know Mandela's Story?

When was he released from prison? Where was he born? Test your knowledge of Madiba's life

“Today the majority of South Africans, black and white, recognise that apartheid has no future.”- Nelson Mandela

Making Mandela

From growing up in Mvezo to becoming the first Black president of South Africa

A Brief History of Mandela's Life

The key moments in his extraordinary life

The Son of a Thembu Chief

Nelson Mandela's upbringing and education

The transformative years

Mandela Arrives in Johannesburg

Colonialism, apartheid and democracy

Did You Know Mandela Got Expelled From School?

Mandela Becomes The Only African Student on His Law Course

5 Years in Prison Becomes 27

Pledging His Life to the People

“I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.”- Nelson Mandela

Looking back at apartheid

The enforced racial segregation that existed in South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s

Sharpeville massacre

What Happened at the Sharpeville Massacre?

Where the non-violent campaign to reverse apartheid began

The Day Our Children Lost Faith

What happened on 16 June 1976?

The Law That Forced People From Their Homes

Paving the way for further legislation restricting the rights of black people

The Women's Anti-Pass March of 1956

"You strike a woman you strike a rock"

The Freedom Charter

Inside the Treason Trial

The trial where 156 South Africans were accused of high treason

South African heads of government

The Apartheid Government

Leadership during the rise and fall of apartheid

The Signs That Defined Apartheid

Images of enforced segregation

The Rainbow Nation votes

The First Post-Apartheid Elections

The first time South Africans of all nationalities were able to cast their vote in a national election

Where the events unfolded

Take a virtual tour of iconic locations from history

ExploreMandela Capture Site

ExploreRobben Island - Mr. Mandela's Cell

ExploreVictor Verster Prison

ExploreJohannesburg Magistrate Court

ExplorePretoria Central Prison

ExploreRobben Island - Bluestone Quarry

ExplorePalace of Justice, Pretoria

The power of protest

How the power of protest brought about change

Your voice matters

The Phenomenon of Protests in South Africa

A brief history of protests, plaques, and the police response

Protest Posters from South Africa's History

A beautiful form of protest

"Prison - far from breaking our spirits - made us more determined to continue with this battle until victory was won"- Nelson Mandela

27 years behind bars

The story of Mandela's time in prison

1963 - 64: The Rivonia Trial

The Trial That Changed South Africa

A landmark event that led to the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela and his comrades

In His Own Words

The Prison Years

A test of commitment, patience and perseverance

Nelson Mandela and His Last Warder

The friendship between Nelson Mandela and Jack Swart

27 years in prison

What Happened When Nelson Mandela Previewed His Prison Archive

Revisiting memories of joy, pain, and friendship

Nelson Mandela in his own words

Zoom into his letters and diaries

Inside Robben Island

The island prison where Mandela spent 18 years of his life

A Virtual Tour of the Prison

In Their Own Words: Recollections of Former Political Prisoners

Interviews with former political prisoners of Robben Island

Robert Sobukwe: Another Famous Prisoner

A political dissident and freedom fighter who founded and led the Pan Africanist Congress

A new era

Mandela's time as the first democratically elected President of South Africa

Nelson Mandela's Presidential Years

His thoughts and notes from meetings and the House of Assembly

What Did Nelson Mandela Do After He Retired?

Nelson Mandela dedicated his post-1999 retirement to a vast range of charitable work

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."- Nelson Mandela

Learning from Mandela

The influence and impact of South Africa's first Black president

Life principles

Nelson Mandela's Guiding Principles

What can we take from Mandela’s example to help find our inner leader?

How Mandela is Inspiring the World's Next Generation of Leaders

Discover how the Nelson Mandela Foundation aims to motivate a new generation of leaders ready to create meaningful change

My Moment with a Legend

Through the lens of photojournalist Benny Gool, 42 people recall the time they met the international icon

What Books Did Nelson Mandela Read?

Books gifted to Mandela and their inscriptions

Nelson Mandela's Fight to Empower the Next Generation

How Mandela promoted education as a key instrument of liberation

Unthreading Mandela

A tapestry celebrating Nelson Mandela’s life

Make every day a Mandela Day

Honouring Mandela on his birthday

Nelson Mandela's Message of Thanks

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