To celebrate both Mandela’s life and the film Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom, BET presents Mandela: The Leader You Know, The Man You Didn’t, which features interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive insights from the cast and global cultural leaders on the making of the remarkable and moving film.

For 27 years Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was imprisoned for fighting for the freedom of South Africa. As the first democratically elected President of the nation, Mandela worked with F.W. de Klerk (the President of the nation at the time), tirelessly to take on the onerous task of abolishing apartheid and establishing multi-racial elections in 1994.

Now Idris Elba will present the South African leader’s life as the star of the film, Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom, taking a look at Nelson Mandela’s journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the father of South Africa’s freedom.
With his recent home-going happening on December 5, 2013, Mandela’s life can be simply summed up by one of his most famous quotes: ““When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace.” Relive his life, watch Mandela: The Leader You Know, The Man You Didn’t. Friday, December 20th at 7:30P/6:30C.