Nelson Mandela spent 27 years behind bars. On Robben Island, his cell was just 7 by 9 feet, and visits came only twice a year. Yet even there, gratitude gave him strength — and helped prepare him to lead a nation toward reconciliation.

Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) was arrested in 1962 and later sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage against South Africa’s apartheid regime.

He spent 18 years on Robben Island (1964–1982) in harsh conditions, often in a 7x9 foot cell with a thin mat for bedding.

Prisoners performed hard labor in a limestone quarry; Mandela’s eyesight was permanently damaged by the sun’s glare on the rock.

Each prisoner was allowed one 30-minute visit every six months, and letters were limited to 500 words, often censored or delayed for months.

Despite this, Mandela mentored fellow prisoners, studied law, and became a symbol of hope.

In 1990, after 27 years in prison, he was released. Four years later, he was elected South Africa’s first Black president.