Graça Machel (born Graça Simbine on October 17, 1945) is a prominent Mozambican politician and humanitarian known for her advocacy of women’s and children’s rights. She was honored as an honorary Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997 for her humanitarian contributions. Remarkably, Machel is the only woman in modern history to have served as First Lady of two nations, South Africa and Mozambique. She was married to former Mozambique President Samora Machel (1975–1986) and later to former South African President Nelson Mandela (1998–2013).
Machel is a member of the Africa Progress Panel (APP), where she collaborates with other distinguished leaders to advocate for fair and sustainable development across Africa. In this role, she fosters partnerships, shares knowledge, and influences policies to drive meaningful change on the continent.
From 1999 to 2019, Machel served as the Chancellor of the University of Cape Town.
Early Life and Education
Graça Simbine was born 17 days after her father’s death, the youngest of six children, in Incadine, Gaza Province, Portuguese East Africa (now Mozambique). She attended Methodist mission schools and later received a scholarship to study at the University of Lisbon in Portugal, where she studied German and became involved in independence movements.
Machel is multilingual, speaking French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, English, and her native Xitsonga.
Political Career
In 1973, Simbine returned to Portuguese East Africa and joined the Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO), working as a schoolteacher. After Mozambique gained independence in 1975, she was appointed the country’s first Minister of Education and Culture on June 25, 1975. Under her leadership, school enrollment rates significantly increased.
Later Career
Machel has received numerous accolades, including the 1992 Africa Prize for her efforts to eliminate hunger in Africa, the 1995 Nansen Medal from the United Nations for her humanitarian work with refugee children, and several other international awards. In 1997, she was honored with the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.
Machel has held numerous prestigious positions, including Chancellor of the University of Cape Town (1999-2019), member of the Commonwealth of Nations’ Eminent Persons Group (2009), President of the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London (2012), and Chancellor of the African Leadership University (since 2016). In 2017, she was elected an Honorary Fellow of the British Academy.
United Nations Involvement
After retiring from her ministerial role in Mozambique, Machel was appointed by the United Nations to lead a report on the impact of armed conflict on children. She also served on various UN committees and task forces, focusing on health, maternal and child welfare, and sustainable development goals.
The Elders
In 2007, alongside Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, Machel helped establish The Elders, a group of global leaders working on key issues like conflict resolution, sustainable development, and gender equality. She has been particularly active in efforts to end child marriage through the Girls Not Brides initiative.
Other Roles and Activities
Machel has served on various corporate boards and non-profit organizations, including chairing the Whatana Investment Group and the African Child Policy Forum, and holding board positions in organizations such as the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital.
Personal Life
Machel was married to Samora Machel, the first President of Mozambique, and they had two children, Josina and Malengane. After Samora Machel’s death in 1986, she married Nelson Mandela in 1998. Mandela passed away in 2013.
Honors and Awards
Machel has received numerous honors, including Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, Nansen Medal of the United Nations, and multiple honorary doctorates from universities around the world. She has also been recognized for her humanitarian efforts by organizations such as the World Health Organization and CARE.
