Nelson Mandela Celebrates 93 Years of Awesomeness

Nelson Mandela, the first democratically elected president of South Africa, celebrates his 93rd birthday today. Mandela's one of the all-time causiest people ever, so we're singing a loud and especially DoSomething.org'esque off-key "Happy Birthday" for him. Here's a timeline to show how much today celebrates:

1918: Nelson Mandela is born into the ruling family of the Thembu dynasty.

1927: His father dies. Mandela is placed in the custody of the Paramount Chief who prepares him to take high office.

1942: Mandela completes his bachelor's degree at the University of South Africa.

1943: He joins the African National Congress.

1944: Mandela and his colleagues form the African National Congress Youth League to act more radically in the interest of national emancipation.

1948: The National Party wins all-white elections on the platform of apartheid.

1952: African National Congress launches its Campaign for the Defiance of Unjust Laws in an effort to start a mass civil disobedience movement against apartheid policies.

1950s: Mandela is subjected to a series of banning restrictions, arrests, and imprisonment for his resistance efforts.

1960: The African National Congress is outlawed. Mandela is detained.

1961: Mandela serves as the keynote speaker at the All-in African Conference and threatens the apartheid government with a majority (black) strike if they fail to devise a new, democratic constitution. Mandela goes underground to lead the campaign.

1964: Mandela is sentenced to life in prison on the charge of sabotage.

1990: Mandela is released from prison after serving 27 years. During that time, his mother and eldest son died. Mandela was prohibited from attending their funerals.

1991: Mandela is elected president of the African National Congress at their first South African convention since the ANC was banned.

1993: Mandela is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

1994: Apartheid officially ends in South Africa in the country's first democratic election. Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as the South Africa's first democratically elected president.

1999: Mandela steps down as president after serving one term.

2004: Mandela announces that he is stepping out of public life to spend time with his family in a period of reflection.

2005: Mandela announces that his second son has died of AIDS complications and urges South Africans to speak about the disease in order to diminish its stigma.

2010: Mandela is presented with the FIFA World Cup. (He was instrumental in securing the 2010 games in South Africa.)

2011: Mandela celebrates his 93rd birthday, surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Source: Nelson Mandela Foundation.