Nelson Mandela Turns 94
South Africa's Nelson Mandela turned 94 last week. Andrew Mlangeni, an anti-apartheid activist who was  imprisoned with him on Robben Island, said striving to emulate his values would be the best tribute. "Living up to the ideals that he sacrificed so much for, would be the greatest gift South Africans today could give Mandela," the 86-year-old said. South Africans across the nation sang a special rendition of Happy Birthday to pay tribute to their great leader. In Qunu the Nelson Mandela Museum organised youth artist upliftment projects.
South Africa's first black president, Nelson Mandela gained worldwide respect for his personal sacrifices in fighting the white-minority regime that jailed him for 27 years, and ushering in a peaceful transition to democracy. Mandela used his warmth, dignity and self-deprecating humour to help heal racial divisions. His reconciliation efforts earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, shared with apartheid's last president FW de Klerk.
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