Books: Non-Fiction

Nelson Mandela: The Authorized Comic Book

Book — Non-fiction. By Umlando Wezithombe. 2009. 193 pages.
A graphic novel about the life and times of Nelson Mandela produced for school children in South Africa and now available for readers in the U.S.

Themes: World History/Global Studies

Nelson Mandela: The Authorized Comic Book was produced as a collaborative project between The Nelson Mandela Foundation and Umlando Wezithombe (History of Pictures), a comic production company. The book is, as the title suggests, a visual representation of the life and times of Nelson Mandela.

Nelson Mandela: The Authorized Comic Book is a collection of a series of nine separate comics first released in South Africa in October 2005. Divided into eight chapters, the story of Nelson Mandela’s life unfolds in graphic images accompanied with narrative text. Of course the telling of Mandela’s life is also a history lesson of the struggle of a people for basic human rights and dignity.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation was established after Mandela’s retirement on August 19, 1999, and leads the development of a living legacy that captures the vision and values of Mr. Mandela’s life and work. Umlando Wezithombe (History of Pictures) is a comic production company using the visual medium for education, training and entertainment. [Description from Africa Access Review.]

ISBN: 9780393336467 | W.W. Norton