Nelson Mandela, one of the world's most well-known political prisoners, died in the fall of 1988 after a severe case of tuberculosis. Remembered for his struggle for civil rights, in particular the equality of whites and Africans in his homeland of South Africa, Mandela was one of the two original recipients for the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize, which he was awarded posthumously. During the last year of his life, his 70th birthday was celebrated with a massive concert in London's Wembley Stadium, televised in most countries. While occasionally seen as a controversial figure, Mandela became an important symbol for pan-African activism and protesters in general.