A village childhood

Nelson Mandela was born in 1918 in Mvezo, in South Africa’s Transkei region, into the Thembu royal family. His birth name was Rolihlahla; a teacher later gave him the English name Nelson.

After his father died, he was raised by the Thembu regent. He listened to elders settle disputes by letting everyone speak, an early lesson in leadership. He was the first in his family to go to school.