Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, into the small tribe of Thembu located at Qunu, near Umtata in the Transkei, South Africa. As the son of Nonqaphi Nosekeni and henry Mgalda Mandela, a chief councillor of the Tehmbu tribe, he was initially named as Rolihlahla Dalibhunga Mandela, but later ch...