Nelson Mandela
On February 11, 1990, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (b. 1918), the iconic leader
of the anti-apartheid struggle, was released from prison after 27 years; the whole world watched the moving event live on television.
In a speech that same day, he declared forcefully, “Our resort to the armed struggle in 1960 with the formation of the military wing of the ANC was a purely defensive action against the violence of Apartheid. The factors which necessitated the armed struggle still exist today. We have no option but to continue.We express the hope that a climate conducive to a negotiated settlement would be created soon, so that there may no longer be the need for the armed struggle.”
To read more about “Africa 1980-2010: Tragedies, Triumphs, and Challenges” visit the online exhibition Africana Age.
