Good leaders aren’t born; they are made through hard work, continuous learning and practical experience. Former South African president Nelson Mandela embodied all three: he fought for his fellow countrymen under oppression, spent 27 years in prison and emerged determined to fulfil his mission.

Who Was Nelson Mandela? is one such book that helps you understand what made Mandela a beacon of hope for his countrymen, why he dedicated his life to a cause and how he pursued it despite resistance at every step. A quick Google search tells you he was South Africa’s first elected Black president, but books can tell you much more.

As a child, he dreamed of changing South Africa; as a man, he changed the world. The book explains the consequences of the decisions he made, including his decision to change his name from Rolihlahla to Nelson Mandela. Why he did that is just one of the many questions answered in these pages about the child who went on to help end apartheid, the policy of racial discrimination in South Africa.

After losing his father at an early age, Mandela was placed with a foster family, which turned out to be an important turning point in his life. Studying at one of the best institutions for Black people in South Africa and living among them helped him understand their situation.

The text by Pam Pollack and Meg Belviso is simple, while Stephen Marchesi’s illustrations complement the narration well. From Mandela’s childhood to his later years, the book is written in a way that keeps you reading. Along the way, you will also learn how European settlers came to South Africa, why they made it their home and how Mandela’s struggle was similar to those of other world leaders who came before or followed him.

If you didn’t know that the African name given to Mandela meant ‘Tree Shaker’, that he was jailed multiple times before receiving a life sentence or that his family suffered because of his involvement in the freedom movement, this book offers plenty to discover. It will help you understand what apartheid and how it affected generations in South Africa, while also shedding light on Mandela’s long struggle, which was recognised with the Nobel Peace Prize after his release from prison.

Published in Dawn, Young World, October 3rd, 2026