Born to Make a Difference
Nelson Mandela was born in South African Cape Province, Umtata, on July 18th, 1918. His great-grandfather was of the Thembu people’s royal family. The surname Mandela was inherited from the King’s son, Nelson’s grandfather.
His full name is Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. His middle name, Rolihlahla, translates colloquially to the word “troublemaker.” The literal translation of the name is “pulling the branch of a tree.”
Mandela’s First Jobs
In 1940, he discovered that Jongtintaba, the regent of the Thembu people, had arranged his marriage as well as the marriage of his good friend and the regent’s son. Nelson and his pal didn’t like this news, thus they fled to Johannesburg. Mandela initially took up a job as a night watchman, and then as an articled clerk in a law firm. It was also here in Johannesburg in 1941, that Mandela would meet his first white friend, a man named Nat Bregman.
The Start of a Legacy
Later that same year, the regent’s son and Mandela were visited by their regent and guardian, Jongintaba. He expressed his forgiveness toward both of them before returning home (which, you can imagine, had been weighing on Mandela and his friend since their great escape). He passed away in the following winter.
Both young men returned home for a short period to attend the final rites of Jongintaba. The next year, he completed his BA. He decided to return to Johannesburg to begin a political career as a lawyer, the start of a long and successful career. We’re sure you know there were some bumps along the way, but little did Mandela know what was in store for him at the end!