Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

Where can I find information about Nelson Mandela?

Junior Secondary

(Years 7-10)

Colour photo from 2000 of Nelson Monday giving a lecture at the London School of Economics. It shows a close up of his head and shoulders.

Image: Nelson Mandela, 2000 (2) by Library of the London School of Economics and Political Science on Wikimedia Commons.

Entry last updated: 22/05/25

Introduction

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on 18 July 1918, into the Madiba clan in the village of Mvezo, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. He is best known for his work as an anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist, as well as being the first black President of South Africa from 1994-1999.

General websites

Nelson Mandela is an important figure in world history. The following websites have useful information about him.

Nelson Mandela Foundation

The official website of the non-profit organisation founded by Nelson Mandela in 1999. The Nelson Mandela Foundation is focused on dialogue and advocacy, and memory and legacy work. This website contains a wealth of information on Mandela

  • Select the Mandela Archives menu at the top of the page.

  • Choose Biography & Timeline.

  • Select the biography tile for information about Mandela's life and achievements.

Tips: Websites that have .org or .net in the address can have good information, but you need to assess how reliable it is. Check the About us link on the website, if you can find one. That can tell you what the organisation’s mission and values are.

Britannica School

This is one of the EPIC databases. EPIC is a collection of reliable databases covering lots of different topics. It’s put together especially for New Zealand school students and helps to answer questions like this.

  • Select your learning level - Primary, Middle, or Secondary (you can always change this later).

  • Carry out a keyword search for 'Nelson Mandela'.

  • Go to the article called Nelson Mandela.

Tips: To get to the EPIC resources you will need a password from your school librarian first. Or you can chat with one of our AnyQuestions librarians between 1 and 6pm Monday to Friday and they will help you online. Some EPIC databases may also be available through your public library.

Biography (Gale In Context)

This EPIC database has a mix of different resources about famous people, including biographies, videos, and more.

  • Go to Browse People.

  • This list is in alphabetical order by last name. Find Mandela, Nelson.

  • Select Read more for an overview of his early life, prison sentence, and time as President of South Africa.

  • Or look further down the page for select Biographies, Videos and Images to explore more about him.

Opposing Viewpoints (Gale In Context)

This particular EPIC resource will allow you to explore both sides of an issue.

Primary Sources

Primary sources are immediate, first-hand accounts of a topic, from people who had a direct connection with it. Some examples of primary sources include letters, diaries, interviews, and speeches.

Literature Resource Centre (Gale)

This EPIC database has primary source material including literary works as well as biographical information and literary criticism.

  • Do a keyword search for 'Nelson Mandela'.

  • At the top of the page, under SHOWING RESULTS FOR, select Primary Sources & Literary Works.

  • In Prison With Nelson Mandela is an interview with one of Mandela's fellow Robben Island inmates, and is a great example of a primary source.

World History (Gale In Context)

This EPIC database provides an overview of world history.

Tips: To get to the EPIC resources you will need a password from your school librarian first. Or you can chat with one of our AnyQuestions librarians between 1 and 6pm Monday to Friday and they will help you online. Some EPIC databases may also be available through your public library.

The Guardian

This is a well-known newspaper in the United Kingdom that includes articles about events around the world.

YouTube

The popular video site YouTube has many videos about Nelson Mandela, including videos of speeches he has made.

Tips: You need to be aware that the information on YouTube is contributed by lots of different people. It can be a good way to learn more about a topic, but you need to be careful that the information is accurate. If you are using this site, it always pays to check the information against that on other sites or in books from the library.

Tips: Some websites have advertisements (or ads) which ask us to buy something or tell us to ‘click here’. It’s best to ignore these ads and focus on the information we’re looking for.

Books

There have been many books written about Nelson Mandela - check out your local public or school library to see what they have.

SCIS no: 1905046

Topics covered

Related content

Back to Many Answers