Nelson Mandela is the prominent leader associated with the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. His activism began in the 1940s as a member of the African National Congress (ANC), where he fought against the institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination imposed by the apartheid regime. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for his beliefs, becoming a global symbol of resistance against oppression. His release in 1990 marked a turning point, leading to negotiations that dismantled apartheid. In 1994, he became South Africa’s first black president, championing reconciliation and equality, and earned the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.