Nelson Mandela Family Tree: The Story Behind South Africa's Anti-Apartheid Leader

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, born 18 July 1918 in Mvezo, Eastern Cape, Union of South Africa, was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, lawyer, and political leader who served as President of South Africa (1994–1999) — the country's first Black head of state, elected in its first fully representative election. Nobel Peace Prize 1993 (jointly with F. W. de Klerk). He died 5 December 2013 at age 95.

The Family's Roots: A Xhosa-Thembu Royal Family

The Mandela family is from the Madiba clan of the Thembu people, part of the Xhosa ethnic group. The family had local royal status as part of the Thembu royal lineage.

His Parents

Father: Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa Mandela (c. 1880–1928) — chief of Mvezo; principal counsellor to the Thembu King; died of tuberculosis when Nelson was 9.

Mother: Nosekeni Fanny Mandela — third of Gadla's four wives; raised Nelson in Qunu after his father's death.

His Siblings

Nelson had 12 siblings from his father's four wives — six full siblings and seven half-siblings. He was the eldest son of his mother's branch.

His Three Wives

  1. Evelyn Ntoko Mase (1922–2004) — nurse; first wife from October 1944 to March 1958; mother of four children. Distant cousin of Walter Sisulu's wife.
  2. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (1936–2018) — activist, "Mother of the Nation"; second wife from June 1958 to March 1996; was 21 years younger than Nelson.
  3. Graça Machel, born 1945 — Mozambican; widow of Samora Machel (first president of Mozambique); Nelson's third wife from 18 July 1998 (his 80th birthday) until his death.

His Children

Madiba Thembekile "Thembi" Mandela (1945–1969) — eldest son with Evelyn; died in a car crash at age 25.

Makaziwe Mandela (1947, died at 9 months).

Makgatho Lewanika Mandela (1950–2005) — son with Evelyn; died of AIDS at 54.

Makaziwe "Maki" Mandela, born 1954 — daughter with Evelyn; academic.

Zenani Mandela, born February 1959 — daughter with Winnie; South African ambassador to Argentina.

Zindziswa "Zindzi" Mandela (1960–2020) — daughter with Winnie; ambassador to Denmark; died at 59.

The Mandela Family Tree at a Glance

Family Origins: Madiba clan, Thembu royal lineage, Xhosa people; Mvezo, Eastern Cape.

Father: Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa Mandela (d. 1928 when Nelson was 9) — Thembu royal counsellor.

Mother: Nosekeni Fanny Mandela.

Siblings: 12 (full and half) across father's four wives.

Wives: Evelyn Mase (m. 1944, div. 1958); Winnie Madikizela (m. 1958, div. 1996); Graça Machel (m. 1998 — his 80th birthday — until his death 2013).

Children: Thembi (1945–1969, car crash); Makaziwe (1947, infant death); Makgatho (1950–2005, AIDS); Maki (b. 1954); Zenani (b. 1959); Zindzi (1960–2020).

Nelson Mandela:

  • Born 18 July 1918, Mvezo
  • University College of Fort Hare (1939; expelled for student protest); University of South Africa; University of Witwatersrand (LLB)
  • Founded South Africa's first Black law firm with Oliver Tambo (1952)
  • African National Congress (ANC): from 1944; uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) — armed wing co-founder (1961)
  • Rivonia Trial: 1963–64; life imprisonment for sabotage
  • 27 years in prison: Robben Island (1964–1982); Pollsmoor (1982–1988); Victor Verster (1988–1990)
  • Released: 11 February 1990
  • Nobel Peace Prize: 1993 (with F. W. de Klerk)
  • President of South Africa: 10 May 1994 – 14 June 1999 (first one-term presidency)
  • Founded the Nelson Mandela Foundation (1999) and the Elders (2007)
  • Died 5 December 2013, Johannesburg, age 95

What the Mandela Family Story Teaches Us

A Thembu royal-counsellor father who died of TB when Nelson was 9. A mother who raised him in Qunu. 12 siblings. Three marriages — including to one of the great activists in her own right and one as a widow of Mozambique's first president. Six children, three of whom died young (one in a car crash, one in infancy, one of AIDS).

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Mandela story carries the same lesson. Polygamous and blended families can produce vast trees. The Mandela tree spans his father's four wives, his own three marriages, and his many siblings and children — and includes the Machels of Mozambique too. Write down every wife, husband, and child. The honest tree is the wide tree.

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