Nelson Mandela: 10 things to know about his wife, Graca Machel

By Faith Karimi, CNN

Updated 0413 GMT (1213 HKT) December 15, 2013

Not only is Nelson Mandela the former president of South Africa and a Nobel Peace Prize winner, but he is also a father, grandfather and even great-grandfather of a huge family. Mandela has been married three times and has fathered six children. Here he poses with his wife of 15 years, Graca Machel.
Photos: Photos: Mandela family album
Mandela family album – Not only is Nelson Mandela the former president of South Africa and a Nobel Peace Prize winner, but he is also a father, grandfather and even great-grandfather of a huge family. Mandela has been married three times and has fathered six children. Here he poses with his wife of 15 years, Graca Machel.
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Mandela spends his 90th birthday surrounded by family at his home in Qunu, South Africa, in 2008.
Photos: Photos: Mandela family album
Mandela family album – Mandela spends his 90th birthday surrounded by family at his home in Qunu, South Africa, in 2008.
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Mandela casts his ballot for the 2011 elections in South Africa with his daugher Princess Zenani Dlamini, left, and granddaughter Ndileka Mandela.
Photos: Photos: Mandela family album
Mandela family album – Mandela casts his ballot for the 2011 elections in South Africa with his daugher Princess Zenani Dlamini, left, and granddaughter Ndileka Mandela.
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Princess Zenani Dlamini's daughters Swati Dlamini, left, and Zaziwe Dlamini-Manaway talk about their reality show, "Being Mandela," in New York in February.
Photos: Photos: Mandela family album
Mandela family album – Princess Zenani Dlamini's daughters Swati Dlamini, left, and Zaziwe Dlamini-Manaway talk about their reality show, "Being Mandela," in New York in February.
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Makgatho Mandela carries a fruit basket before a 1989 ferry trip to Robben Island Prison, where his father spent much of his 27-year incarceration.
Photos: Photos: Mandela family album
Mandela family album – Makgatho Mandela carries a fruit basket before a 1989 ferry trip to Robben Island Prison, where his father spent much of his 27-year incarceration.
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Pictures of the late sons of Nelson Mandela, by photographer Eli Weinberg, hang in his office at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory in Houghton, Johannesburg, on Tuesday, June 11. Thembekile Mandela died in a 1969 car accident and Makgatho Mandela died from AIDS in 2005.
Photos: Photos: Mandela family album
Mandela family album – Pictures of the late sons of Nelson Mandela, by photographer Eli Weinberg, hang in his office at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory in Houghton, Johannesburg, on Tuesday, June 11. Thembekile Mandela died in a 1969 car accident and Makgatho Mandela died from AIDS in 2005.
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Makgatho Mandela's son, Ndaba Mandela, right, with cousin Kweku Mandela at Times Square for an April 19 showing of "Power of Words: Nelson Mandela," a short film about their grandfather's writings that was part of the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.
Photos: Photos: Mandela family album
Mandela family album – Makgatho Mandela's son, Ndaba Mandela, right, with cousin Kweku Mandela at Times Square for an April 19 showing of "Power of Words: Nelson Mandela," a short film about their grandfather's writings that was part of the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.
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Makgatho Mandela's eldest son, Mandla Mandela, serves as the chief of Mvezo in the village where his grandfather was born.
Photos: Photos: Mandela family album
Mandela family album – Makgatho Mandela's eldest son, Mandla Mandela, serves as the chief of Mvezo in the village where his grandfather was born.
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Nelson Mandela's daughter Makaziwe Mandela, left, with her daughter Tukwini Mandela, pose in April with House of Mandela wine at their home in Johannesburg.
Photos: Photos: Mandela family album
Mandela family album – Nelson Mandela's daughter Makaziwe Mandela, left, with her daughter Tukwini Mandela, pose in April with House of Mandela wine at their home in Johannesburg.
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Nelson Mandela's daughter Zindzi Mandela and her son Zondwa Mandela pose with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, which they accepted on behalf of Nelson Mandela during the 2009 ESPY Awards.
Photos: Photos: Mandela family album
Mandela family album – Nelson Mandela's daughter Zindzi Mandela and her son Zondwa Mandela pose with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, which they accepted on behalf of Nelson Mandela during the 2009 ESPY Awards.
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Nelson Mandela's granddaughter Zoleka Mandela speaks during the launch of the Zenani Mandela Scholarship for road safety, dedicated to her daughter Zenani Mandela, who was killed in 2010 at age 13 in a road accident.
Photos: Photos: Mandela family album
Mandela family album – Nelson Mandela's granddaughter Zoleka Mandela speaks during the launch of the Zenani Mandela Scholarship for road safety, dedicated to her daughter Zenani Mandela, who was killed in 2010 at age 13 in a road accident.
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The Mandela family in 2009, from left, Thembela Mandela, Mbuso Mandela, Nelson Mandela, Ndileka Mandela and Zoleka Mandela, and, front row, Zenani Mandela, Bohelo Seakamela and Zwelami Mandela.
Photos: Photos: Mandela family album
Mandela family album – The Mandela family in 2009, from left, Thembela Mandela, Mbuso Mandela, Nelson Mandela, Ndileka Mandela and Zoleka Mandela, and, front row, Zenani Mandela, Bohelo Seakamela and Zwelami Mandela.
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