Nelson Mandela: a life in pictures

1990: Nelson Mandela at home on the day after his release from prison, Soweto, South Africa Photograph: Louise Gubb/Corbis Saba

1938: Earliest known image of Nelson Mandela (back row, fifth from right) at Healdtown Comprehensive School Photograph: Google Mandela archive

1950: A portrait of Mandela in traditional dress Photograph: Apic/Getty

Lawyer and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela with fellow activist Ruth First at an African National Congress conference in Bloemfontein, South Africa, December 1951 Photograph: Jurgen Schadeberg/Getty Images

1956: Mandela sings with supporters and his fellow accused during his first treason trial in Johannesburg. Mandela and 150 other people were acquitted after a four-and-a-half-year trial Photograph: Peter Magubane/AP

Nelson Mandela ANC Leader -1956 Photograph: Sipa Press/Rex Features

October 1958 , South African ANC leader Nelson Mandela (right) leaves the synagogue ( with Moses Kotane-left), being used as a court, in Pretoria, South Africa, at the end of the day's proceedings during the first treason trial. He is trumphant at the news that the prosecution had withdrawn charges. However the treason trial resumed in February on the basis of a more precise indictment Photograph: Jurgen Schadeberg/AP

1961: Mandela and his then wife, Winnie, show off their firstborn daughter, Zindzi, at their home in Soweto. Mandela fled into exile overseas as the political situation in South Africa worsened, returning only to be arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment in what became known as the Rivonia trial Photograph: Alf Khumalo /AP

Nelson Mandela (left), leader of the African National Congress with the commanders of the Algerian Army in 1962 Photograph: Keystone-france/Getty Images

1964: Eight men, among them Nelson Mandela, with their fists raised in defiance through the barred windows of the prison car, leave the Palace of Justice in Pretoria, having been sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiracy, sabotage and treason Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

1966: Nelson Mandela with Walter Sisulu at Robben Island Photograph: International Defence and Aid Fund

1966: Mandela sits and sews inmates' clothes in the yard of Robben Island prison Photograph: Express Newspapers/Getty Images

A Release Nelson Mandela poster from The Anti Apartheid Movement Photograph: Bodeian Library, University of Oxford

Nelson Mandela in the garden in prison 1977 Photograph: Googel Mandela Archive

1985: A protester carries a portrait of Mandela during funerals for victims of police violence in Cape Town Photograph: Bernard Bisson/Sygma/Corbis

1988: A music fan at the Human Rights Now! concert in Wembley Stadium, holds up a banner in reference to Nelson Mandela's imprisonment on Robben Island Photograph: PA

1990: Nelson Mandela gestures as he is accompanied by his wife Winnie, moments after his release from Victor Verster prison after 27 years in Western Cape Photograph: Ulli Michel/Reuters/Corbis

1990: Mandela raises his arms as he receives applause during a visit to the UN in New York shortly after his release Photograph: Don Emmert/AFP

African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela (R) is greeted by British Prime Minister Margarat Thatcher at 10 Downing Street on July 4, 1990 Photograph: Russell Boyce /Reuters

1993: Archbishop Desmond Tutu applauds as he watches Nelson Mandela and South African President F.W. de Klerk receive the Nobel Peace Prize for ending Apartheid in South Africa. Tutu won the peace prize in 1984 for his work in civil rights Photograph: Louise Gubb/Corbis

1993: Nelson Mandela and South Africa's last apartheid president Frederik de Klerk, shake hands after both being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. Mandela and De Klerk shared the peace prize for their efforts in securing a peaceful transition from apartheid rule Photograph: Gerard Julien/AFP/Getty Images

Children in the Orange Free State put up posters of the ANC's leader Nelson Mandela, in the run-up to South Africa's first democratic elections of April 1994. Photograph: Andy Hall

Nelson Mandela doing the clenched fist salute at an election rally in Johannesburg, South Africa, 1994 Photograph: Don Mcphee/Guardian

1994: Bodyguards keep close watch as Nelson Mandela celebrates his victory in the South African presidential elections of 1994 Photograph: David Turnley/Corbis

1994, South Africa: Nelson Mandela and his daughter Zenani at Presidential Inauguration Ceremony Photograph: David Turnley/Corbis

1994: Nelson Mandela in his previous cell where he had been incarcerated for twenty seven years for his views in opposition fo the apartheid regime Photograph: David Turnley/Corbis

June 24 1995: Springbok captain Francois Pienaar (R) receives the Rugby World Cup from South African President Nelson Mandela at Ellis Park. South Africa won the final against New Zealand 15-12 after extra-time. Photograph: Philip Littleton/AFP/Getty Images

1998: Mandela with Mia Farrow, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington for a fund-raising Valentine's Day fashion show to benefit the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund Photograph: Tom Munro/AP

1998: Mandela and Graca Machel happily embracing in their stateroom on the Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner Photograph: Louise Gubb/Corbis

1999: Mandela raises the hand of his successor, Thabo Mbeki, at an election rally Photograph: Greg Marinovich/Getty Images

2004: Mandela holds the Jules Rimet World Cup beside Archbishop Desmond Tutu, at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich. South Africa won the right to host the 2010 World Cup finals, the first to be played in Africa Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

2005: Mandela spoke at a Make Poverty History rally in London's Trafalgar Square. He told the cheering crowd: Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

2005: Mandela sits beside his wife Graca Machel at the funeral for his oldest son Makgatho Mandela. Mandela broke the African taboo surrounding HIV/AIDS when he officially announced that his son had died from the disease Photograph: Howard Burditt/Corbis

2008: Mandela celebrates his 90th birthday at home with his grandchildren Photograph: Themba Hadebe/AP

2008: Mandela speaks at a concert held in his honour in London. The event was organised to raise funds for his HIV/Aids 46664 campaign, named after his prison number Photograph: Andrew Winning/Reuters

2009: Mandela casts his vote in South Africa's general elections in Johannesburg Photograph: Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images

July 11, 2010: Mandela waves at the 2010 World Cup Final match in Johannesburg, South Africa Photograph: Mike Hewitt/FIFA/Getty Images

2011: First Lady Michelle Obama and Nelson Mandela review his book Nelson Mandela by Himself, at his home in Houghton, South Africa Photograph: Samantha Appleton/The White House

2011: Mandela on his 93rd birthday with his extended family at his home in Qunu, South Africa. With him are Zaziwe Manaway, baby Ziphokazi Manaway, daughter Princess Zenani Mandela, Zamaswazi Dlamini and baby Zamakhosi Obiri Photograph: Peter Morey/nelson Mandela Foundation/EPA

2012: A sculpture of Mandela is unveiled in Howick, south of Durban, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Mandela's capture by the apartheid police. The sculpture was designed by Marco Cianfanelli, stands 10 metres tall and is made from 50 steel columns anchored in a concrete base Photograph: Rajesh Jantilal/AFP/Getty Images

In this image from TV, President of South Africa Jacob Zuma talks to the media Thursday Dec. 5, 2013, from a podium in Pretoria, South Africa. Zuma announced Thursday that former President Nelson Mandela has died. (AP Photo/SABC pool) Photograph: AP Photograph: AP