When it comes to icons like Mandela, there’s very little that the public don’t already know. But that doesn’t mean some awesome little nuggets have gone uncovered. AFKinsider has put together an awesome list of the lesser-known madiba facts, and we’d like to share it with you.

1. Mandela was expelled from university after less than a year.

It’s well known that Madiba attended Fort Hare Missionary College. Not well known though, is the fact that, less than 12 months later, he was expelled from college for helping to organize a strike against the white colonial rule of the institution. Foreshadowing, much?

2. Stevie Wonder dedicated his 1985 Oscar for “I Just Called to Say I Love You” to Mandela.

After Stevie accepted his award in honor of Nelson Mandela, the SABC banned Stevie’s music from the airways.

 3. Mandela outlived his two oldest sons.

Mandela had six kids, but tragically lost his two oldest sons. Thembi died in a car crash in 1969 at age 25. Mandela was in prison at the time. His other son, we all know, died of AIDS in 2005 at age 54.

4. Mandela ran away from home at the age of 19.

In 1941, his guardian tried to set him up with someone in an arranged marriage. He didn’t fancy it. So he headed to Johannesburg and began to work as a night watchman at Crown Mines, but was fired after it was discovered that he had run away.

5. Mandela spent his first night out of prison with Tutu.

Straight off the boat, and Mandela headed for his mate Desmond’s house. There, Tutu helped prepare Mandela’s favourite meal: chicken curry, rice and green salad, followed by rum and raisin ice cream, and custard.

To read five more facts, click here.

[Source : AFKinsider]