The prominent fighter for civil rights and social justice from South Africa was Nelson Mandela. He became a global symbol of resistance against apartheid, a system of institutionalized racial segregation and oppression in South Africa. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for his anti-apartheid efforts but remained a powerful figure in the struggle for equality. Upon his release in 1990, he played a crucial role in negotiating the end of apartheid and worked toward reconciliation in a divided nation. In 1994, Mandela became South Africa's first Black president, emphasizing unity and nation-building during his leadership.