Nelson Mandela was the famous figure leading the fight against the apartheid regime in South Africa. His activism against racial oppression made him an international symbol of resistance. He spent 27 years in prison, during which time he became a global icon for the anti-apartheid movement. After his release in 1990, Mandela played a crucial role in dismantling apartheid and promoting reconciliation in the country. In 1994, he became South Africa's first black president and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election, further signifying the end of racial segregation and discrimination in the nation.