ENGLISH DEPARTMENT – PROJECT NELSON MANDELA
Why is Nelson Mandela famous?
A leader of his people
Nelson Mandela was the first black President of South Africa. He spent 27 years in
prison for trying to overthrow the pro-apartheid government. After he left prison, he
worked for human rights and a better future for everyone in South Africa.
When did he live?
Nelson Mandela was born in 1918. He was in prison from 1962 to 1990. He became
President of South Africa in 1994, and retired in 1999. Nelson Mandela died on 5
December 2013.
Why is he famous?
Nelson Mandela became famous for his long fight against bad government and racial
prejudice. He became a hero to people all over the world. As South Africa's President,
he was respected for his courage and wisdom in bringing people together to live in
peace.
Problems in South Africa
South Africa's history
Most South Africans are black. There are also people of European and Asian
backgrounds, and people of mixed race.
Dutch people set up the first white colony in South Africa in 1652. Later British settlers
came. Dutch farmers called themselves 'Boers', from a Dutch word meaning 'farmers'.
They spoke a language called Afrikaans. Most other whites spoke English. Black people
spoke Bantu languages such as isiNdebele and isiZulu.
How South Africa was ruled
When Mandela was growing up, black people had no rights. The government was
whites-only. Most black people were poor. They worked as servants.
What was the ANC?
In 1944, Nelson Mandela joined the African National Congress or ANC. The ANC
wanted black South Africans to have the same human rights as whites.
In 1948, the South African government made new laws to keep white people and black
people apart. The new system was called 'apartheid'.
What was apartheid?
Apartheid (say A-PART-HITE) forced white and non-white people to live in separate
areas. Non-white people meant black people, people from Asia and people of mixed
race.
A white person and a black person could not marry. Black people and white people
could not share a table in a restaurant, or sit together on a bus. Black children and white
children went to different schools. Sports teams were all-white or all-black, never
mixed.
What happened at Sharpeville?
In 1960, people held a demonstration against apartheid at Sharpeville, near
Johannesburg. The police shot dead 69 black people. The government blamed the ANC,
and banned it.
Mandela became leader of a secret army, known as Umkhonto we Sizwe or 'Spear of
the Nation'. He travelled to other countries to ask for help.
Millions of people in other countries supported the anti-apartheid movement. Many
nations stopped trade with South Africa. Sports teams and entertainers refused to go
there.
Still the government refused to change. In 1962, Nelson Mandela was arrested again. In
1964, aged 46, he was given a life sentence.
President Mandela
Robben Island
Mandela was sent to the prison on Robben Island.
Mandela spent 18 years on Robben Island. He had to do hard labour. He was allowed
one visitor every 6 months. He was later moved to another prison.
Free Nelson Mandela!
Mandela became the most famous prisoner in the world. He did not give up. Even the
prison guards admired him.
At last, in 1988, the South African government began to make changes. One change was
to let black students into 'white' universities. From around the world, the calls got
louder. Free Nelson Mandela!
Mandela leaves prison
In 1990, South Africa's new President FW de Klerk set Nelson Mandela free. Mandela
and de Klerk agreed: no more fighting. Mandela called on all South Africans to work
together in peace.
Mandela becomes President
In the 1994 elections, all black people in South Africa could vote for the first time.
Mandela won the election. In May 1994, Nelson Mandela became South Africa's first
black president.
Honours and a book
In 1993, Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk shared the Nobel Peace Prize.
Mandela wrote a book about his struggle called 'Long Walk to Freedom'.
Family life
Mandela married three times. His first marriage ended in 1957. He and his second wife,
Winnie, divorced in 1996. At the age of 81, he married Grace Machel.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/famouspeople/nelson_mandela/
QUIZ
1.Where was Nelson Mandela in prison?
a. Christmas Island
bTtreasure Island
c.Robben island
2. How long was Nelson Mandela in prison in Robben Island?
a. 18 years
b. 23 years
c. 12 years
3. In all, how many years did Mandela spend in prison?
a. 25
b. 27
c. 21
4. What was “apartheid”?
a. a political party
b. a company
c. a system that separated blacks and whites
5. How many people died in Sharperville?
a. 59
b. 69
c. 79
6.What was “the spear of the nation”?
a. a tall building
b. a football team
c. a secret army
7.Which people spoke Afrikaans?
a.Boers
b.Zulus
c.Xhosa
8. What happened in 1988?
a. elections
b.black students could study in “white” universities
c. Nelson Mandela won the Nobel Prize.
9. When did Nelson Mandela become the first black president of South Africa?
a. 1994
b.1993
c.1995
SONG- The specials: FREE NELSON MANDELA
Free Nelson Mandela
Free, Free, Free, Nelson Mandela
Free Nelson Mandela
………………………. years in captivity
His ……………… too small to fit his feet
His body abused but his mind is still ………………….
Are you so blind that you cannot see
I say Free Nelson Mandela
I'm begging you
Free Nelson Mandela
He pleaded the causes of the ANC
Only one …………….. in a large army
Are you so blind that you cannot …………………….
Are you so deaf that you cannot hear his plea
Free Nelson Mandela
I'm begging you Free Nelson Mandela
Twenty-one years in captivity
Are you so blind that you cannot ……………………………
Are you so deaf that you cannot ……………………..
Are you so dumb that you cannot ………………………
I say Free Nelson Mandela
I'm begging you
Oh free Nelson Mandela, free
Nelson Mandela I'm begging you
begging you Please free Nelson Mandela
free Nelson Mandela
I'm telling you, you've got to free Nelson Mandela