Nelson Mandela celebrates 20 years of Freedom.

Former South African president Nelson Mandela celebrates 20 years since his release from prison today. He was released from prison on February 11 after 27 years behind bars.

Former South African apartheid era, President F.W. de Klerk lifted the 30-year ban on the African National Congress and Black Nationalist Nelson Mandela on February 2, 1990. This development paved way for Nelson Mandela’s release from jail.

Nelson Mandela was a lawyer from the Transkei; he was convicted of treason and sabotage in June 1964 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He spent the first 18 years of his sentence on Robben Island, off Cape Town, doing hard labor, and later spent time at Pollsmoor Prison and Victor Verster Prison, closer to the mainland. He refused numerous offers for early release from the government in Pretoria because of the conditions attached. Then the world's best-known political prisoner, Mandela was 71 when he was released.

Following his release, he negotiated the end of apartheid, took over as South Africa's first black president after the country held its first all-race election, and began reuniting the people of South Africa under one flag with his incredible wisdom and patience.

Mandela turns 92 on 18 July this year, shortly after the conclusion of the World Cup in South Africa. It will be amazing for Madiba to be able to see the culmination of his life’s work when the showpiece event takes place on African soil for the first time in its 80-year history.