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Rolihlahla Dalibhunga Mandela is born a member of the Madiba clan. His tribal name, "Rolihalah," means "troublemaker." He is later given his English name, Nelson, by a teacher at his school
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Joins the African National Congress (ANC) as an activist.
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Parliament passes new laws extending racial segregation by creating separate homelands for major black groups in South Africa
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His mother dies and his eldest son is killed in a car crash but he not allowed to attend either of the funerals
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Nelson Mandela is released from prison after 27 years