Nelson Mandela Meeting Famous People: A Look at His Connections with World Leaders, Celebrities, and Global Figures

Nelson Mandela was a world figure known for his fight against unfairness and his work to bring people together in South Africa. After spending many years in prison, he was released and later became the president of his country. Because of who he was and what he stood for, Nelson Mandela met a vast number of people from all walks of life, including many who were famous around the world.

People from different fields wanted to meet Nelson Mandela for many reasons. For many, meeting him was a sign of respect for his long struggle for freedom and equality. He represented hope and forgiveness on a global scale. He was seen as a hero who had helped change history through peaceful means after immense suffering.

He met with powerful political leaders, including presidents and prime ministers from countries all over the world. These meetings were important for South Africa, helping the country reconnect with the international community after years of isolation. They also gave leaders a chance to show their support for the new, democratic South Africa.

#1 Former South African president Nelson Mandela (L) poses with television personality Oprah Winfrey in Henley, Johannesburg, in this December 6, 2002 picture.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#2 Former South African President Nelson Mandela lands a “straight left” to the chin of former World Champion Muhammad Ali as South African Special Olympics Athlete Rofhiwa looks on in June 2003.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#3 Former President Nelson Mandela receives an England team jersey with “Mandela” on the back from captain David Beckham in Johannesburg in 2003.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#4 British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former South African President Nelson Mandela and former US President Bill Clinton attending a gala night to mark the centenary of the Rhodes Trust in 2003.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#5 Former South African President Nelson Mandela kisses U.S. singer Beyonce Knowles, at the Nelson Mandela AIDS Benefit Concert in Cape Town, South Africa Saturday Nov. 29, 2003.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#6 Former South African President Nelson Mandela, from left, with U.S. singer Beyonce Knowles and British singer Annie Lennox on Robben Island in Cape Town, South Africa in 2003.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#7 Former US President Bill Clinton (R) sharing a joke with former South African President Nelson Mandela (L) at Mandela’s private residence in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2005.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#8 West Indian cricket star, Brian Lara (L) meetings with Nobel Peace Prize winner and iconic political prisoner Nelson Mandela (R) at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Johannesburg, South Africa in 2005.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#9 Former U.S. President Bill Clinton (L) embraces former South African President Nelson Mandela following remarks by Clinton during a visit to the Nelson Mandela Foundation July 19, 2007 in Johannesburg.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#10 US actor Brad Pitt (top) with Former South African President Nelson Mandela, after being appointed as a 46664 Ambassador (the number denotes Mandela’s prison ID) in 2009.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#11 South African president and Nobel peace prize laureate Nelson Mandela (C) poses with the Rugby World Cup held by South African coach Jake White (L) and South African captain John Smit (R) in 2007.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#12 African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela waves after he and U.S. President George Bush made remarks on the South Lawn of the White House June 25, 1990 – the support of the US public was key in securing his release.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#13 In this June 15, 1990 file photo, Pope John Paul II, right, shakes hands with Nelson Mandela, deputy leader of African National Congress, during a private audience at the Vatican.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#14 South African anti-apartheid leader and African National Congress (ANC) member Nelson Mandela (R) shaking hands with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on the steps of No 10 Downing Street in July 1990.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#15 ANC leader, South African Nelson Mandela (L) and South African President, South African, F.W.De Klerk (R) posing for a photograph with medals and diplomas as they share the Nobel Peace Price 1993.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#16 Pope John Paul II (L) and South African President Nelson Mandela talking at the Presidential guest house in Pretoria in September 1995.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#17 Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and President Nelson Mandela during the British monarch’s state visit to South Africa in 1995, a year after Mandela took office in 1994.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#18 In this Aug. 22, 1996 file photo, the Dalai Lama, left, walks hand-in-hand with South African President Nelson Mandela prior to an official reception at the presidential office in Cape Town, South Africa.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#19 In this July 9, 1996 file photo, South African President Nelson Mandela stands with Queen Elizabeth II on his arrival at Buckingham Palace in London for a state banquet in his honor.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#20 South African President Nelson Mandela (L) shares a joke with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates after their meeting at Mandela’s residence in Cape Town, in this file picture taken March 11, 1997.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#21 In this March 17, 1997 file photo, South African President Nelson Mandela, left, shows the way to Britain’s Princess Diana in Cape Town, South Africa, where they discussed the threat of AIDS in the country.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#22 South African President Nelson Mandela receives a cricket bat from the South African Cricket captain, Hansie Cronje, during the lunch break on the third day of the Second Test between South Africa and India at Newlands on January 4, 1997.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#23 Prince of Wales (left) and South African President Nelson Mandela at a photocall with the Spice Girls (left to right), Mel C, Emma, Mel B, Geri and Victoria at the presidential residence Mahlamba Nalopfu in Pretoria in 1997.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#24 In this March 27, 1998 file photo, South African President Nelson Mandela, left, and U.S. President Bill Clinton peer through the bars of prison cell No. 5, the cramped, gray cell where Mandela was jailed.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#25 In this Aug. 11, 1998 file photo, South African President Nelson Mandela, (right), and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat gesture during a meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#26 South African Nobel Peace Prize winner and iconic political prisoner Nelson Mandela (R) with Cuban President Fidel Castro at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the GATT Agreement in 1998.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#27 South African President Nelson Mandela, left, and American pop singer Michael Jackson arrive at a news conference in Cape Town in 1999.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#28 U.S. President George W. Bush looks up at former South African President Nelson Mandela as they address the media gathered outside the Oval Office of the White House November 12, 2001.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#29 Former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, right, speaks during a press conference alongside British model Naomi Campbell in Barcelona, Spain, before the ‘Frock and Roll’ benefit concert in 2001.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#30 Former South African President Nelson Mandela (L) and Irish rock star Bono pose together after meeting at Mandela’s residence at Houghton in Johannesburg, in this May 25, 2002 photo.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote