Nelson Mandela Photos: Benny Gool, Apartheid Photojournalist, Took Striking Images Of Madiba (PHOTOS)

For over three decades, photojournalist Benny Gool was afforded the rare opportunity to chronicle the career of Nelson Mandela. Working for The Cape Times, he captured both public and private moments of the first president of post-apartheid South Africa, collecting iconic photographs of the man many know as Madiba.

Gool's images are the subject of a new exhibit at New York's POP International Galleries, titled "MADIBA – Images of Nelson Mandela." Featuring portraits of Mandela's familiar smiling face, the show highlights everything from his momentous speeches to his celebrity encounters with icons like Michael Jackson and Princess Diana.

"MADIBA – Images of Nelson Mandela" goes on view at POP International Galleries in New York on February 13, 2013.

Scroll through a preview of the exhibit below and let us know how you are celebrating Black History Month in the comments section.

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WORCESTER, SOUTH AFRICA: After his release from 27 years in prison Mr Mandela went out of his way to visit as many communities, across the length and breadth of the country, as possible. Here, he greets masses of people assembled on a football field in Worcester, about 100 miles from Cape Town.

President-elect Nelson Mandela at an election rally at Athlone Stadium just before South Africans of all races went to the polls for the first time in April 1994.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA: President Nelson Mandela on one of what must have amounted to hundreds of visits to crèches, to spend time with the children. This photograph was taken in Mitchell’s Plain.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA: King of Pop Michael Jackson visited President Nelson Mandela at his parliamentary office, Tuynhuis, on 23 March 1999.

MALMESBURY, SOUTH AFRICA - A smiling President Nelson Mandela at an event in the small town of Malmesbury, north of Cape Town.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA: ANC President Nelson Mandela, with regional leaders Reverend Alland Boesak and Mr Lerumo Kalako, on the campaign trail in Grassy Park ahead of the historic 1994 general election.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - 20 March 1997: President Nelson Mandela re-visited Robben Island on 20 March 1997, stopping off at the infamous lime quarry where prisoners were forced to work.

Cape Town, South Africa: Mr Mandela participates in the voter registration drive, at Peninsula Technikon, ahead of South Africa’s second democratic election in 1999.

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