Graca Machel Biography: Husband, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Height, Children, First Lady

Graça Machel is a Mozambican politician, humanitarian, and advocate for women’s and children’s rights.

She is recognized globally for her work in these areas and was named an honorary Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997.

Machel made history as the only woman to serve as the First Lady of both Mozambique and South Africa.

She was the widow of Samora Machel, the former President of Mozambique (1975–1986), and Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa (1998–2013).

Profile

• Full Name: Graça Simbine
• Stage Name: Graca Machel
• Born: October 17, 1945
• Age: 79 years old
• Birthplace: Gaza Province, Mozambique
• Nationality: Mozambican
• Occupation: Mozambican politician and humanitarian
• Height: Unknown
• Parent: Mr. and Mrs. Simbine.
• Siblings: 5
• Spouse: Nelson Mandela (m. 1998–2013), Samora Machel (m. 1975–1986)
• Children: Malengani Machel and Josina Z. Machel
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: Unknown

Early Life And Education

Graça Simbine was born on October 17, 1945, in Incadine, Portuguese Mozambique, to parents whose names are unknown and can be referred to as Mr. and Mrs. Simbine.

Her father, a Methodist minister, passed away just 17 days before her birth, leaving her mother to raise six children on her own. Raised in a Methodist household, Simbine attended a local Methodist mission school, where she excelled academically.

Simbine’s academic achievements led her to earn a scholarship to the University of Lisbon in Portugal, where she studied German.

As a member of the Xitsonga ethnic group, Simbine is strongly connected to her Mozambican heritage and practices Christianity.

Her multilingual skills include fluency in French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and English, alongside her native Xitsonga language, enabling her to engage with diverse cultures and communities.

Career

Graça Machel is renowned for her role as a freedom fighter with the FRELIMO movement, which led Mozambique to independence in 1975. As the country’s first Minister of Education, she significantly improved education access.

During her tenure, school enrollment for both boys and girls surged, with primary and secondary enrollment increasing from around 40% to over 90% for boys and 75% for girls. Her work in education laid a strong foundation for the country’s development.

In recognition of her efforts, Machel received numerous accolades. She was awarded the 1992 Africa Prize for her contributions to eliminating hunger in Africa.

In 1995, she received the Nansen Medal from the United Nations for her humanitarian work with refugee children. In 1997, Queen Elizabeth II honoured Machel as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire and awarded her the Global Citizen Award, among other prestigious recognitions.

Machel’s career extended beyond education and humanitarian work. She served as Chancellor of the University of Cape Town from 1999 to 2019 and was appointed to the Commonwealth’s Eminent Persons Group in 2009.

She also served as President of the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London in 2012 and continues to serve as Chancellor of the African Leadership University. Her leadership in education and advocacy has had a global impact.

In her later career, Machel focused on health, climate change, and youth empowerment. She was involved in various UN initiatives, including serving on the High-Level Taskforce on Innovative Financing for Health Systems.

She also advocated for Africa’s youth to play a more significant role in climate politics, particularly regarding education and development funding. Machel is a key member of the Africa Progress Panel, working to promote sustainable development across the continent.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: Graça Machel Trust
• Facebook handle: Graça Machel Trust
• Twitter handle: @G_MachelTrust

Personal Life

Graça Machel was married twice. In 1975, she married Samora Machel, the first president of Mozambique, with whom she had two children: daughter Josina (born April 1976) and son Malengane (born December 1978).

Samora Machel tragically died in 1986 when his presidential plane crashed near the Mozambique-South Africa border. Josina became a prominent women’s rights activist and was listed as one of the BBC’s 100 Women in 2020.

Machel’s second marriage was to Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa, on July 18, 1998, his 80th birthday. Mandela was serving as the first post-apartheid president of South Africa at the time. He passed away on December 5, 2013, from pneumonia.

Net Worth

Graça Machel’s net worth is not publicly documented, but it is believed to be substantial, partly due to her marriages to influential leaders like Nelson Mandela.

While she was entitled to half of Mandela’s estate, valued at around $4 million, Machel reportedly waived her claims. Instead, she focused on her humanitarian work through the Graça Machel Trust.