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Nelson Mandela

About the Author

Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela is one of the world’s most beloved and admired heroes. Born in South Africa in Mvezo, a small village in the remote Transkei, on July 18, 1918, he is from the royal family of the Thembu, who are part of the larger Xhosa people.

After obtaining his B.A. degree at the University of South Africa in 1941, Mandela was drawn to the politics of the African National Congress (ANC), whose strategy was to fight the minority rule with nonviolence. Organizing a campaign in the early 1950s to end the pass system, which required black South Africans to carry passes wherever they traveled, Mandela was arrested on charges of treason, but he was acquitted after a five-year trial.

In 1962, he was arrested again, this time on charges of sabotage and conspiracy. Found guilty, Mandela soon became the world’s most famous political prisoner, embarking with his fellow inmates on a system of self-education that earned the Robben Island prison the name of “Island University.” While incarcerated, Mandela started a negotiation process with the government for the transformation of South Africa from an apartheid state into a democracy. After spending twenty-seven years in prison, Mandela was released in 1990.

Just three years later, in 1993, Nelson Mandela shared the Nobel Peace Prize with former president F. W. de Klerk fortheir dismantling of apartheid. In 1994, the majority of black South Africans participated in a democratic election in which Mandela became the first black president of the country. He was inaugurated in May 1994 and served as president of South Africa for five years.

Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela: Booktrack Edition

Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela: Booktrack Edition

by Nelson Mandela, Afterword by Sharon Gelman, Read by Michael Boatman

In His Own Words

In His Own Words

by Nelson Mandela, Foreword by Bill Clinton, Foreword by Kofi Annan, U.N. Secretary-General

Mmadipetsane

Mmadipetsane

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Alfre Woodard

The Cat Who Came Indoors

The Cat Who Came Indoors

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Helen Mirren

The Cloud Princess

The Cloud Princess

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Matt Damon

The Lion, the Hare, and the Hyena

The Lion, the Hare, and the Hyena

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Alan Rickman

Spider and the Crows

Spider and the Crows

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Don Cheadle

Fesito Goes to Market

Fesito Goes to Market

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Don Cheadle

The Mother Who Turned to Dust

The Mother Who Turned to Dust

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Helen Mirren, by Vusi Mahlasela

The Hare and the Tree Spirit

The Hare and the Tree Spirit

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Sophie Okonedo

The Enchanting Song of the Magical Bird

The Enchanting Song of the Magical Bird

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Jurnee Smollett

The Clever Snake Charmer

The Clever Snake Charmer

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Samuel L. Jackson

Van Hunks and the Devil

Van Hunks and the Devil

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by LeVar Burton, by Johnny Clegg

The Sultan’s Daughter

The Sultan’s Daughter

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Blair Underwood, by Johnny Clegg

Sannie Langtand and the Visitor

Sannie Langtand and the Visitor

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by CCH Pounder

Wolf and Jackal and the Barrel of Butter

Wolf and Jackal and the Barrel of Butter

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Hugh Jackman, by Johnny Clegg

Sakunaka, the Handsome Young Man

Sakunaka, the Handsome Young Man

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by LaTanya Richardson Jackson, by Vusi Mahlasela

Words As Sweet As Honey from Sankhambi

Words As Sweet As Honey from Sankhambi

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Debra Messing

King Lion’s Gifts

King Lion’s Gifts

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Ricardo Chavira

The Snake Chief

The Snake Chief

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Scarlett Johansson, by Johnny Clegg

The Wolf Queen

The Wolf Queen

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Benjamin Bratt, by Vusi Mahlasela

The Message

The Message

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Charlize Theron

How Hlakanyana Outwitted the Monster

How Hlakanyana Outwitted the Monster

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Sean Hayes, by Vusi Mahlasela

The Mantis and the Moon

The Mantis and the Moon

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Forest Whitaker

Natiki

Natiki

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Parminder Nagra

Mpipidi and the Motlopi Tree

Mpipidi and the Motlopi Tree

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Matt Damon, by Vusi Mahlasela

Asmodeus and the Bottler of Djinns

Asmodeus and the Bottler of Djinns

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Whoopi Goldberg

The Ring of the King

The Ring of the King

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Alan Rickman

Message From Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Message From Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Desmond Tutu, by Johnny Clegg

Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales

Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by Desmond Tutu, Read by Alan Rickman, Read by Whoopi Goldberg, Read by Matt Damon, Read by Parminder Nagra, Read by Forest Whitaker, Read by Sean Hayes, Read by Charlize Theron, Read by Benjamin Bratt, Read by Scarlett Johansson, Read by Ricardo Chavira, Read by Debra Messing, Read by LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Read by Hugh Jackman, Read by , Read by CCH Pounder, Read by Blair Underwood, Read by LeVar Burton, Read by Samuel L. Jackson, Read by Jurnee Smollett, Read by Sophie Okonedo, Read by Helen Mirren, Read by Don Cheadle, Read by Alfre Woodard

The Guardian of the Pool

The Guardian of the Pool

Compiled by Nelson Mandela, Read by

Mandela

Mandela

by Nelson Mandela

Long Walk to Freedom

Long Walk to Freedom

by Nelson Mandela