Apartheid significantly impacted Nelson Mandela's life and work, as it shaped his early experiences of racial discrimination and fueled his desire for social justice. Mandela became a key figure in the African National Congress (ANC), advocating for the rights of Black South Africans against systemic oppression. His 27 years of imprisonment transformed him into a global symbol of resistance, embodying the struggle for freedom and equality. Upon his release, Mandela played a pivotal role in dismantling apartheid, promoting reconciliation and nation-building in South Africa, and leaving a lasting legacy of peaceful activism.