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Why Is It Called the Mandela Effect?
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Nelson Mandela Mandela effect: three examples
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Why Is It Called the Mandela Effect?

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The Mandela effect is named after former South African president Nelson Mandela due to a widespread but false memory about his death. The term was coined by Fiona Broome, a paranormal researcher, after she discovered in 2009 that she and many others shared a vivid, yet incorrect, memory of Mandela dying in prison during the 1980s. (Mandela was released from prison in 1990, served as president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and died in 2013.) This led Broome to create a website where people could discuss similar experiences and found other examples of shared memories that were incorrect. She called this phenomenon the Mandela effect.

The Mandela effect quickly gained traction on the Internet, becoming a viral sensation. People began to share other instances of collective false memories, such as misremembered movie lines or non-existent pop culture references. The phenomenon even inspired a film titled The Mandela Effect in 2019, highlighting its impact on popular culture.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Amy McKenna.