The influential African leader known for his fight against colonial rule in South Africa was Nelson Mandela. Mandela was a key figure in the struggle against apartheid, a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the South African government. He was a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and played a crucial role in mobilizing resistance against the apartheid regime. After spending 27 years in prison for his political activities, he was released in 1990. Mandela became South Africa's first black president in 1994, symbolizing national reconciliation and the fight for equality, and he remains an enduring figure of peace and justice worldwide.