Which South African province contains Nelson Mandela’s birthplace, Mvezo?

Nelson Mandela’s birthplace, Mvezo, is in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province.

Mvezo is a small village on the banks of the Mbashe River in the former Transkei region. Mandela was born there on 18 July 1918 into the Thembu royal family. He was later raised mainly in nearby Qunu after his father’s position changed.

The Eastern Cape contains many places associated with Mandela’s early life, including Qunu, Mqhekezweni, and the town of Mthatha. The region was central to his cultural identity and to the history of the Thembu people.

Mvezo is sometimes confused with Qunu because Mandela spent much of his childhood in Qunu and was buried there. The two settlements are both in the Eastern Cape but are distinct places.