As of Friday, Apple has been honoring the late South African President and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela, who passed away late last week at the age of 95.
Like it did for the passing of company cofounder Steve Jobs and a select few other world figures, Apple posted a picture of the late political leader to its homepage along with his birth and death dates.
Mandela died on Thursday. He had been battling a number of health problems. A recurring lung infection had required a recent hospitalization.
Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted on Thursday, “Amazing human being. Champion of freedom and human dignity. He set an example for all of the world. RIP Nelson Mandela. We miss you already.”
Mandela’s fight against the apartheid state-enforced racial segregation in his country eventually led to his being held in jail for more than 27 years. Mandela always tried to inspire his followers by preaching a message of peace, not conflict.
Mandela was released in 1990. and became a central figure in the anti-apartheid movement, winning the Nobel Peace Prize alongside South Africa’s then President F.W. de Klerk. After petitioning for a multi-racial presidential election in 1994, Mandela was elected to the office and served until 1999.
Mandela spent his later years counseling other world government figures in his role as an elder statesman, and in humanitarian work.
