The famous Bantu statesman who was jailed for his fight against colonial oppression was Nelson Mandela. Mandela emerged as a key figure in the African National Congress (ANC) during the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. He was arrested in 1962 for his involvement in anti-government activities and spent 27 years in prison. His resilience and commitment to the cause of racial equality and justice made him an international symbol of resistance against oppression. Mandela was eventually released in 1990, leading to negotiations that ended apartheid, and he became South Africa's first Black president in 1994.