Biko is a biography about black consciousness movement leader and anti apartheid activist steve biko. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Black consciousness and the quest for a true humanity from the prophetic book by bantu steve biko i write what i like. See more ideas about steve biko, african history and african. Now forty years later, the face of black politics and indeed the whole balance of power in south africa, have changed almost beyond recognition and yet the memory of biko and the imprint of black consciousness remain indelibly with us. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read i write what i like. While living, his writings and activism attempted to empower black people, and he was famous for his slogan black. Stephen biko was a noted antiapartheid activist in south africa in the 1960s and 1970s. It is the trial transcript a bit murky in places to our great dismay of the evidence given by steve biko to a white prosecutor in a 1970s trial of 9 black activists accused of committing treason against apartheid south africa. Click on the bookslive page to keep reading or click here to visit the new sunday times books for the latest from the world of literature. This is not to say that he was callously neglectful of the value of life, including his own, but rather he was a man for whom life was so valuable that the fear of death could be transcended. It was written by the liberal white south african journalist donald woods, a personal friend of biko. The inquest showed that hed died of brain injuries received while in custody and that.
His childhood experiences and character, lead him to become a powerful. Remembering steve biko, 37 years on sunday times books live. He was the second son third child of mzimgayi biko. Steve biko inspired a generation of black south africans to claim their true identity and refuse to be a part of their own oppression. Opinion the truth about steve biko the new york times. It was the inspiration for the 1987 film cry freedom. The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed. Stephen bantu biko was an antiapartheid activist in south africa in the 1960s. They want to tell the blacks that the integration they see is the solution to the ideal society. Steve biko, a political activist and writer, is regarded as the father of the black consciousness movement in the union of south africa. If anyone was going to make a big deal about having known steve biko, it was always going to be xolela mangcu, as he does in his latest book, biko. Like all of steve bikos writings, those words testify to the passion, courage, and keen insight that made him one of the most powerful figures in. As a young antistalinist, antiapartheid activist in london in the late 1970s i had been energized by the june 16, 1976 soweto revolt but disgusted by the mainstream anti. Biko is a biography about black consciousness movement leader and antiapartheid activist steve biko.
Like all of steve biko s writings, those words testify to the passion, courage, and keen insight that made him one of the most powerful figures in south africas struggle against. Written by one of the foremost figures in south africas struggle for liberation this new edition of steve bikos classic text celebrates the 50th anniversary of his birth. In doing so, i do not wish to appear to be unnecessarily concerning myself with the white. The song is a musical eulogy, inspired by the death of the black south african antiapartheid activist steve biko in police custody on 12 september 1977. When the south african black consciousness leader steve biko died in police custody in september 1977, journalist donald woods was at the forefront of the campaign to get the truth revealed about his death. Steve biko biography, birth date, birth place and pictures. Stephen bantu biko 18 december 1946 12 september 1977 was a south african activist. In may 1976, nine blacks were arrested in south africa a.
Ideologically an african nationalist and african socialist, he was at the forefront of a grassroots antiapartheid campaign known as the black consciousness movement during the late 1960s and 1970s. His ideas were articulated in a series of articles published under the. Originally published in the britannica book of the year. Black consciousness and the quest for true humanity by steve biko it is perhaps fitting to start off by examining the real reasons which make it necessary for us to think collectively about a problem we never created. Biko became a close friend of white liberal activist donald woods, who wrote a book about biko after his death. Steve biko rose to infamy in the eyes of the south african government in the 1960s and 1970s alongside current human rights lawyer barney pityana as leaders of the black consciousness movement.
Through his example, he demonstrated fearlessness and selfesteem, and he led a black student movement countrywide that challenged and thwarted the culture of fear perpetuated by the apartheid regime. This is a transcribed version of the speech delivered by professor ben okri at the th annual steve biko memorial lecture held at the university of. Stephen bantu biko was an antiapartheid activist in south africa in the. Steve biko books list of books by author steve biko. Steve biko was one of south africas most significant political activists, a prominent figure in the antiapartheid struggle and a leading founder of south africas black consciousness movement. At first, the police claimed that biko had died as the result of a hunger strike. A month later in september 1977, steve was found severely beaten and all naked in pretoria, hundreds of miles away from the place he was supposedly held a prisoner. Republished after bikos and his own experiences were made the subject of the film cry freedom, this is woods inspirational yet harrowing biography of his friend, the south african antiapartheid activist and martyr steve biko.
Synopsis this portrait of south african black leader steve biko includes the testimony of peter jones, who was arrested with biko, and the story of the authors escape from south africa after leading the public outcry over bikos death. Bookslive has a new home on the sunday times website. Bantu stephen biko 18 december 1946 12 september 1977 was a south african antiapartheid activist. Because of the influence of his speeches and writings, biko was banned by the apartheid regime, and could not write publicly or speak with the media. Synopsis this is a collection of the writing of the famous activist and black consciousness leaders steve biko, prefaced by archbishop desmond tutu. Black consciousness defines the situation differently. He died the very next day, on 12th september due to brain haemorrhage, which was a result of severe beating he received in prison by the police.
Nkosinathi biko, samora biko, lerato biko, motlatsi biko and hlumelo biko stephen bantu biko 18 december 1946 12 september 1977 1 was a south african activist. Bikos courageous and delicate testimony, recorded here in the dramatic format of direct and cross examination, explores almost every issue in south africa andshows something of bikos brilliance, humor, vision and quickness of mind. Steve biko conditions in soweto itself, however awful, may not have been enough to start a protest. Please note that this excludes all international deliveries.
At the time i was impressed by an important pamphlet written by john. These articles written using his pseudonym frank talk form. Biko lives contesting the legacies of steve biko by a. This is not to say that he was callously neglectful of the value of life, including his own, but rather he was a man for whom life was. In it readers will find all the qualities which continue to make him even some years after his brutal murder in detention one of the most influential thinkers in. It is now almost forty years since steve biko died in detention and the major black consciousness organizations was banned. Free delivery to your door on all orders over r450. For the liberals, the thesis is apartheid, the antithesis is nonracialism and the synthesis very feebly defined. In this work i try to go behind the picture of steve biko and want to show that his philosophy is equally relevant today as it was during the time of its creation. This book is the ultimate guide to creating a successful revolution ever written, mainly because it was never intentionally written. This article was written in 1988 as an attempt to understand what had happened to black consciousness bc as an ideological force ten years after steve bikos death. Steve biko, founder of the black consciousness movement in south africa. Read on for some of bikos most powerful and inspiring words of wisdom. He fought against the separation between black and whites, called apartheid the afrikaans term for separateness.
It is an exposition of the black consciousness philosophy. I write what i like is a book featuring the collection of articles written by steve bantu biko. Stubbs, who later became bikos friend, edited some of his writings into a book titled. Get free delivery to all exclusive books stores nationwide. Bantu stephen biko was born in king williamstown, cape province, south africa, on december 18, 1946. This book covers the basic philosophy of black consciousness, bantustans, african culture, the institutional church and western involvement in apartheid. Donald woods was forced into exile for attempting to expose the truth surrounding bikos death. When south africas truth and reconciliation commission began work last april, the widow of steve biko feared it could grant amnesty to. Gerhart i n october 1972, steve biko was employed by the black division of the study project of christianity in apartheid society sprocas, which had its office in the same building as the south african student organization saso at 86 beatrice street, durban. A student leader, he later founded the black consciousness movement which would empower and mobilize much of the urban black population.
Steve biko 194678 is regarded as the father of the black consciousness movement in south africa and a key figure in bringing about the end of apartheid. He was only 31, but his vision and charisma captured in this collection of his work had already transformed the agenda of south african politics. Selected writings, and steve biko black consciousness in south africa, and more on. On 12th september 1977, steve biko was murdered in his prison cell. He is famous for for his activism against apartheid in south africa during the 1960s and 1970s. The testimony of steve biko, edited by millard w arnold.
Before his untimely death in detention he was only 30 when he was killed biko was an instrumental force in. This book covers the basic philosophy of black consciousness, bantustans. Steve biko south african political leader britannica. See all books authored by steve biko, including i write what i like. Steve biko simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Find highquality steve biko stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. As a young antistalinist, antiapartheid, activist in london in the late 1970s i had been energized by the june 16, 1976 soweto revolt and by bikos conception of black consciousness.
Steve biko biography facts, childhood, achievements. The young steve biko and his colleagues had seized the shoulder of the sleeping giant of black awareness in south africa to shake him from his slumber. Inside cover page of biko text book the law and practice of administration of. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. Biko was born in ginsberg township now called the eastern cape province of south africa. I write what i like ebook by steve biko 9780226368535.
1367 87 479 922 993 676 890 66 1318 1368 1284 1485 1088 823 340 1394 44 1261 935 1107 1277 284 511 295 250 624 517 379 537 263 150 198 1120 1229 1226 89 260 148 233 1236 110 834 31 1263