From south africas 912, a tribute to steve biko on 12 september 1977, stephen bantu biko, aged 30, died of brain damage from severe beating sustain while in police custody. Biko s 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 biko s brilliance, humor, vision and quickness of mind. Jan 28, 20 the suspicious details surrounding the 1977 death of antiapartheid activist steve biko took two decades to finally come to light. These articles written using his pseudonym frank talk form the core of the book. Steve biko and mamphela ramphele conversations over ciggies steve biko, vintage. Ramphele, it was a statement intended to demonstrate how. Fiks tried every trick in the book to convince me to meet with steve.
Ideologically an african naitionalist an african socialist, he wis at the forefront o a gressruits antiapartheid campaign kent as the black consciousness muivement during the late 1960s an 1970s. Unnamed at birth, steve was put up for adoption by his biological parents, joanne schieble and abdulfattah jandali. Although south african officials rebuffed claims by biko. 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. A defiant ntsiki biko with samora left and nkosinathi at their ginsberg home after steve bikos death in 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. At first, the police claimed that biko had died as the result of a hunger strike.
Mamphela ramphele has had a celebrated career as an activist, medical doctor, academic, businesswoman and political thinker. The suspicious details surrounding the 1977 death of antiapartheid activist steve biko took two decades to finally come to light. Biko was only 15 when mendela was arrested and ultimately imprisoned on robben island. London honouring biko, helping to secure messages from ntsiki biko, mamphela ramphele then the vice chancellor of the university of cape town and mandela. You were less attractive to girls because you never had any fancy stuff like clothes or toys and your mom was working as a domestic worker which further complicated the attraction to girls. Stephen bantu biko was an antiapartheid activist in south africa in the 1960s and. In literature steve biko and the black consciousness thought is more or less discussed within the framework of apartheids opposition. 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. The partner of steve biko, until his death in 1977, she has demonstrated extraordinary political leadership and statesmanship, most recently as the leader of the agang sa party. Gabriel wrote the song after hearing of biko s death on the news. Remembering steve biko, 37 years on sunday times books live. In doing so, i do not wish to appear to be unnecessarily concerning myself with the white. Though the black consciousness movement from the beginning produced a wide array of gifted leaders and spokesmen, it was the name of biko that increasingly worked its way to the fore out of this large group in the months and years ahead, and by the dawn of the decade of the 1970s there were already signs that the young steve biko was the. In her newly released autobiography a passion for freedom, ramphele reveals why she did not join the da, and labels former president thabo mbeki as belligerent.
In 1968 she enrolled for a medical degree at the university of natal, where she became involved in the south african students association saso and was a founder, with steve biko, of the black consciousness movement. Steve bikos lover mamphela ramphele on the tarnishing of his. What was the relationship like between nelson mandela and. Steve biko was born in kingwilliamstown, south africa in 1946. The books title comes from the heading of the column in which biko published his articles in the saso south african students organisation newsletter. Stephen biko is known internationally as the founder of the south african students organization saso, and a leading force in the south africa black consciousness movement. 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. The south african government banned many books about biko, including those of. Biko is a biography about black consciousness movement leader and antiapartheid activist steve biko.
Agang leader mamphela ramphele has laid bare intimate details of her adulterous love affair with slain black consciousness movement leader steve biko. Biko was killed in 1977, a full 12 years before mandela was released from prison. Mamphela ramphele, who was 29 at the time, was sick with grief. Donald woods, bikos close friend and a leading white south african newspaper editor, exposed the murder helping to ignite the black revolution. 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. Under south africas apartheid regime, black activist steve biko has been working for years to undermine the system when he meets white journalist donald woods. It was the inspiration for the 1987 film cry freedom. It is an exposition of the black consciousness philosophy. 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. It was written by the liberal white south african journalist donald woods, a personal friend of biko. It seems that until ramphele launched a political party her relationship with biko was common knowledge but was viewed with silent derision. I sought further answers in books, many books, by or about the likes of abraham lincoln.
A brief yet lively introduction to antiapartheid activist steve biko, this biography argues that biko was the most important political figure to have emerged in south africa between nelson mandelas arrest in the early 1960s and his release in 1990. In this highly acclaimed autobiography, mamphela ramphele vividly describes her. A son, hlumelo, was born to ramphele in 1978, after bikos death. No clear evidence of steves connection to poqo was presented, but he was. As a member of the bcm, she was crucially involved in organising and working with community development programmes. Mamphela ramphele south african activist, physician, academic. She was a partner of antiapartheid activist steve biko, with whom she had two children. 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. Subjected to 22 hours of interrogation, torture and beating by south african police on september 6, 1977, steve biko died six days later. Mamphela ramphele, partner of murdered antiapartheid leader steve biko, tells malcolm dean why the challenges of migration should be managed, not feared. Bookslive has a new home on the sunday times website. Nov 30, 2014 biko was only 15 when mendela was arrested and ultimately imprisoned on robben island. Biko was also in a relationship with lorrain tabane, who bore him a child named motlatsi in 1977.
Inside cover page of biko text book the law and practice of administration of. Read on for some of biko s most powerful and inspiring words of wisdom. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. 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 south africas struggle against apartheid. Steve biko also believed that blacks could support themselves and live in a world without whites, and so, he started the black consciousness group, which was a group that believed in black pride. It is taboo for umakhwapheni to be open about her relationship with a married man because of the social shame. From left to rightsteve biko, dr mamphela ramphele and mxolisi mvovo,steves brotherinlaw relaxing at the zanempilo clinic, circa 1975. 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. Influenced by gabriels growing interest in african musical styles, the song carried a sparse twotone beat played on brazilian drum and vocal percussion, in addition to a. Mamphela aletta ramphele is a south african politician, a former activist against apartheid, a medical doctor, an academic and businesswoman. I write what i like ebook by steve biko 9780226368535. Steve biko biography facts, childhood, achievements, life.
Mar 02, 2005 mamphela ramphele, partner of murdered antiapartheid leader steve biko, tells malcolm dean why the challenges of migration should be managed, not feared. The publication of these booksenlarging the body of published writings and speeches by biko first tapped in donald woods biko noted in foreign affairs, july 1978indicates a broad popular interest in the personality and ideas of the leader of the black consciousness movement in south africa. I enjoyed reading about her fight for rights, her relationship with steve biko, and. Mamphela ramphele is a leading south african academic, businesswoman, medical doctor and former antiapartheid activist. Donald woods was forced into exile for attempting to expose the truth surrounding bikos death. After schiebles parents objected to her relationship with the syrian born jandali the couple found themselves with no other options but adoption. Donald woods was forced into exile for attempting to expose the truth.
At the time i was impressed by an important pamphlet written by john. I write what i like is a book featuring the collection of articles written by steve bantu biko. Stephen steve bantu biko was a popular voice of black liberation in south. Introduction to steve bikos i write what i like by lewis gordon steve bantu biko was a courageous man. 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. Steve biko was an antiapartheid activist in south africa in the 1960s and 70s. 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.
Steve biko inspired a generation of black south africans to claim their true identity and refuse to be a part of their own oppression. Written by some of the leading experts in their fields, this informative and accessible volume demonstrates just how fundamental biko was to the. He then started the black peoples convention in 1972, which was a political front for the black consciousness group and consisted of only blacks, all. Gabriel wrote the song after hearing of bikos death on the news. The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed. Sep 12, 2014 from left to rightsteve biko, dr mamphela ramphele and mxolisi mvovo,steves brotherinlaw relaxing at the zanempilo clinic, circa 1975. She is a trustee of the nelson mandela and steve biko foundations and founder of the citizens movement.
Buy biko 3rd revised edition by woods, donald isbn. Ramphele became politically active while at the university of natal, where she met steve biko, an activist and fellow student with whom she would later have a longterm relationship. If you dont click on the bookslive page, youll be automatically taken to the new website. Steve biko biography facts, childhood, achievements. The legendary antiapartheid activist and leader of the black consciousness movement died in detention at just 30 years old in 1977, 40 years ago this september. Steve bikos lover mamphela ramphele on the tarnishing of. Malcolm x and steve bikos lives were ended shortly due to assassinations by people who hated them. Very little is disclosed about steve biko that we do not already know, but. Sep 12, 2017 a defiant ntsiki biko with samora left and nkosinathi at their ginsberg home after steve bikos death in 1977. His childhood experiences and character, lead him to become a powerful leader. Ngugi wa thiongo the fourth steve biko annual lecture given by ngugi wa thiongo, distinguished professor of english and comparative literature, university of california irvine, at university of cape town, south africa, 12th september 2003.
Ramphele recalls complex love affair with steve biko. She became a member of the south african students organization founded by biko and worked on community initiatives to improve the lives of black south africans. 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. He was strongly influenced by mohandas gandhi and the way he stood up for indian rights in a nonviolent way, and by martin luther king jr. The life and death of steven biko intercontinental cry. Among rampheles numerous books are uprooting poverty. Steve biko attended the university of natal in 1966 to study medicine as soon as he got out of the high school. 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. She is the current leader of agang, a developing political party. Jul 08, 20 when antiapartheid campaigner steve biko died in custody after being brutally beaten by police, his lover was five months pregnant.
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. Biko was a very educated man, even though he had issues in the schools. Browse the worlds largest ebookstore and start reading today on the web, tablet, phone, or ereader. 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. 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.
Careers blog about amazon press center investor relations amazon. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Steve biko was a cofounder of the black consciousness movement, along with dr. Selected writings, and steve biko black consciousness in south africa, and more on. Mamphela ramphele south african activist, physician. In 1974, she bore him a daughter, lerato, who died after two months. Mamphela ramphele is a figurehead of modern south africa.
Initially suspicious of biko and his motives, woods finds himself united with biko in common cause after biko reveals to him the true extent of police atrocities in the black townships. She constantly returns to this theme when she discusses her relationship with steve biko, as well as the undying love shown by her family in her. Mamphela ramphele, in full mamphela aletta ramphele, born december 28, 1947. When antiapartheid campaigner steve biko died in custody after being brutally beaten by police, his lover was five months pregnant. 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. He fought against the separation between black and whites, called apartheid the afrikaans term for separateness. Biko had also begun an extramarital relationship with mamphela ramphele.
The greatest weapon in the hand of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed. Director richard attenborough filmed the story of woods and steve biko, based upon the books which woods had written, under the. Bantu stephen biko 18 december 1946 12 september 1977 was a south african. Mandela and biko never knew each other, because their timelines didnt inter. While at university, ramphele became increasingly involved in student politics and antiapartheid activism, becoming one of the founders of the black consciousness movement bcm, where she met steve biko, with whom she had a relationship. The inquest showed that hed died of brain injuries received while in custody and that hed been kept naked.
At the university, he experienced the racial discrimination based on the skin colour and the dangerous level of white supremacy that prevailed. Read on for some of bikos most powerful and inspiring words of wisdom. Steve biko books list of books by author steve biko. So as a prelude whites must be made to realise that they are only human, not superior. Son of steve biko and dr mamphela ramphele brother of lerato biko half brother of nkosinathi biko. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Steve jobs was born on february 24, 1955, in san francisco california and died october 5 2011in palo alto, california. See all books authored by steve biko, including i write what i like. Jan 19, 2015 i write what i like is a book featuring the collection of articles written by steve bantu biko. Survival, writes mamphela ramphele, is a stronger force than the fear of offending. Steve biko strongly believed in the idea of a nonviolent way to end apartheid in south africa, and to have the whites return to their original homes. 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 apartheid. Moreover, biko became friend with donald woods, a journalist editor, who later played a key role in publishing a book about bikos life and history.