Bantu stephen biko was born in king williamstown, cape province, south africa, on december 18. His childhood experiences and character, lead him to become a powerful leader. Biko was born in ginsberg township now called the eastern cape province of south africa. Posts about steve bantu biko written by thegatvolblogger. Buy biko 3rd revised edition by woods, donald isbn. 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. The inquest showed that hed died of brain injuries received while in custody and that hed been kept naked. This book covers the basic philosophy of black consciousness, bantustans, african culture, the institutional church and western involvement in apartheid. 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. 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. The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.
He fought against the separation between black and whites, called apartheid the afrikaans term for separateness. In literature steve biko and the black consciousness thought is more or less discussed within the framework of apartheids opposition. He died on september 12, 1977 in pretoria, south africa. Find highquality steve biko stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. A student leader, he later founded the black consciousness movement which would empower and mobilize much of the urban black population. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. Bantu stephen biko, that countrys most important black leader, stepped forward to testify on their behalf and thus broke the ban on his public speaking. His death from injuries suffered while in police custody made him an international martyr for south african black nationalism after being expelled from high school for political activism, 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 south africas struggle against apartheid. Established in 1998, the steve biko foundation is a community development organization inspired by the legacy of bantu stephen biko. Books, short stories, writing 03102017 drunk 146 16. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. He was the second son third child of mzimgayi biko. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. 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.
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. 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. Donald woods was forced into exile for attempting to expose the truth. Read all poems of stephen biko and infos about stephen biko. On 12th september 1977, steve biko was murdered in his prison cell. Mar 24, 2020 steve biko, in full bantu stephen biko, born december 18, 1946, king williams town, south africadied september 12, 1977, pretoria, founder of the black consciousness movement in south africa. His death from injuries suffered while in police custody made him an international martyr for south african black nationalism. Jan 01, 1978 bantu stephen biko, that countrys most important black leader, stepped forward to testify on their behalf and thus broke the ban on his public speaking. I write what i like contains a selection of biko s writings from 1969, when he became the president of the south african students organization, to 1972, when he was prohibited from publishing. I write what i like is a book featuring the collection of articles written by steve bantu biko. Written by some of the leading experts in their fields, this informative and accessible volume demonstrates just how fundamental biko was to the.
It is an exposition of the black consciousness philosophy. Bantu stephen biko was born in a poor south african family on 18th december 1946 to mzingaye biko and alice biko. 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. 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. They also reflect his conviction that black people in south africa could not be liberated until they united to break. Read on for some of bikos most powerful and inspiring words of wisdom. Selected writings, and steve biko black consciousness in south africa, and more on.
The collection also includes a preface by archbishop desmond tutu. Through my work and activities, i have sought to practice steve bikos quest for a true humanity. I write what i like ebook by steve biko 9780226368535. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Steve biko, in full bantu stephen biko, born december 18, 1946, king williams town, south africadied september 12, 1977, pretoria, founder of the black consciousness movement in south africa. Its vision is to be the premier independent promoter of the values steve biko lived and died for. 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. Steve biko was born on december 18, 1946 in ginsberg, eastern cape, south africa as stephen bantu biko. After his heroic death, bikos fame spread posthumously. These articles written using his pseudonym frank talk form the core of the book. 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. Book awards book club selections books by author books by series coming soon kids books new releases teens books this months biggest new releases. Member of the src at university of natal noneuropean section, first president of saso, chair of saso publications, black consciousness movement bcm leader, banned person, political prisoner, killed in police detention. Stephen biko poems, quotations and biography on stephen biko poet page.
He is famous for for his activism against apartheid in south africa during the 1960s and 1970s. Stephen bantu biko 18 december 1946 12 september 1977 was an antiapartheid activist in south africa in the 1960s and 1970s. Steve biko simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. In doing so, i do not wish to appear to be unnecessarily concerning myself with the white. In the early hours of the 18th of august 1977, about an hour away from king williams town, on the grahamstown king williams town road, peter jones and steve biko ran into a roadblock. Steve biko south african political leader britannica.
At first, the police claimed that biko had died as the result of a hunger strike. The testimony of steve biko paperback pan macmillan south africa. Steve biko biography, birth date, birth place and pictures. See more ideas about steve biko, african history and african. I write what i like contains a selection of bikos writings from 1969, when he became the president of the south african students organization, to 1972, when he was prohibited from publishing. Donald woods was forced into exile for attempting to expose the truth surrounding bikos death. Editor of the south african newspaper daily dispatch who was an ally of fellow antiapartheid activist steve biko. Stephen bantu biko, meist abgekurzt zu steve biko 18. Steve biko 1977 you are either alive and proud or you are dead, and when you are dead, you cant care anyway.
This really proved that he was a wonderful and brilliant man. Steve biko biography facts, childhood, achievements. His father worked as a policeman first, and later as a clerk, while his mother worked as a servant for the white people. Steve biko biography facts, childhood, achievements, life. He was not alone in forging the black consciousness movement bcm. A focus point of the legacy of steve biko is his final resting place in king williams town in the eastern cape. 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. Selected writings, and steve biko black consciousness in. Steve biko definately showed his views on black conciouseness in this book. It was the inspiration for the 1987 film cry freedom. Biko is a biography about black consciousness movement leader and antiapartheid activist steve biko. Its called pinklakeman ecolodge, where a gorgeous treehouse teeters from a gorge the gorge makes it gorgeous of a seasonal riverbed. Biko is a biography about black consciousness movement leader and anti apartheid activist steve biko. His books exposed case and were the basis of the movie, cry freedom.
The books title comes from the heading of the column in which biko published his articles in the saso south african students organisation newsletter. Written by one of the foremost figures in south africas struggle for liberation this new edition of steve biko s classic text celebrates the 50th anniversary of his birth. Steve biko 19461977, a political activist and writer, is regarded as the father of the black consciousness movement in the union of south africa stephen bantu biko a. I wrote a good chunk of this novella in a treehouse in elementaita. 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. Steve biko was a brilliant thinker, a truly courageous freedom fighter and an inspirational leader. In may 1976, nine blacks were arrested in south africa a. It was written by the liberal white south african journalist donald woods, a personal friend of biko. We have set out on a quest for a true humanity, and somewhere on a distant horizon we can see the glittering prize. In the late 1960s, biko had founded the black consciousness movement, which called for in may 1976, nine blacks were arrested in south africa and charged with terrorism for having thoughts. Stephen bantu biko 18 december 1946 12 september 1977 was a south african activist. Steve biko 1977 being black is not a matter of pigmentation being black is a reflection of a mental attitude. See all books authored by steve biko, including i write what i like.
Read on for some of biko s most powerful and inspiring words of wisdom. Dezember 1946 in tarkastad oder tylden, sudafrikanische union. Steve biko 19461977, a political activist and writer, is regarded as the father of the black consciousness movement in the union of south africa. Bantu stephen biko 18 december 1946 12 september 1977 was a south african antiapartheid activist.
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. Stephen steve bantu biko was a popular voice of black liberation in south africa between the mid 1960s and his death in. Stephen bantu biko was an antiapartheid activist in south africa in the 1960s and 1970s. 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. Bantu stephen biko was born in king williamstown, cape province, south africa, on december 18, 1946. Steve biko books list of books by author steve biko. Recently a short biography about bantu biko was released wilson 2011 which takes a close look at the man biko, his childhood, his family. This book covers the basic philosophy of black consciousness, bantustans, african. Introduction to steve bikos i write what i like by lewis gordon steve bantu biko was a courageous man. 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. 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.