96-606: Luthuli is a name of southern African origin. Albert Luthuli (c. 1898–1967), Teacher, activist, politician and Nobel Peace Prize winner Luthuli Dlamini (born 1966), Zimbabwe-born South African film and television actor Bhekumuzi Luthuli (1961–2010), South African Maskandi musician Bhekizizwe Luthuli , South African politician Siphelele Luthuli (born 1995), South African professional soccer player See also [ edit ] Order of Luthuli Luthuli House [REDACTED] Surname list This page lists people with
192-528: A Seventh-day Adventist missionary station, in 1898 to John and Mtonya Luthuli ( née Gumede) who had settled in the Bulawayo area of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe ). He was the youngest of three children and had two brothers, Mpangwa, who died at birth, and Alfred Nsusana. Luthuli's father died when he was about six months old, and Luthuli had no recollection of him. His father's death led to him being mainly raised by his mother Mtonya, who had spent her childhood in
288-403: A Zulu boy his age such as fetching water, herding, and building fires. Additionally, he attended school for the first time. Under Martin's care, Luthuli was also provided with an early knowledge of traditional African politics and affairs, which aided him in his future career as a traditional chief. Luthuli's mother, Mtonya, returned to Groutville and Luthuli returned to her care. They lived in
384-432: A brand-new house built by his brother, Alfred, on the site where their grandfather, Ntaba, had once lived. In order to be able to send her son to boarding school, Mtonya worked long hours in the fields of the land she owned. She also took in laundry from European families in the township of Stanger to earn the necessary money for school. Luthuli was educated at a local ABM mission school until 1914, and then transferred to
480-687: A cluster of corrugated iron barrack buildings, which are rusted a deep red colour. The Red Location consisted of three different locations namely the Gubbs Location, Coopers Kloof and Strangers Location. These locations were overcrowded and not in good condition. On 26 July 1952, Florence Matomela joined many others in a Defiance Campaign against the Apartheid pass laws at the New Brighton Railway Station which also included Govan Mbeki , Raymond Mhlaba and Vuyisile Mini and other men. She
576-657: A democratic, multi-racial, and free South Africa. While well-received by the attendants of the Congress of the People, the Africanist bloc of the ANC rejected it. They opposed the multiracial nature of the charter and what they perceived as communist principles. Although Luthuli recognised the socialist clauses in the Freedom Charter, he rejected any comparison to the communist ideology of
672-687: A form of institutionalized racial segregation , following the National Party 's election victory in 1948 . Luthuli joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944 and was elected the provincial president of the Natal branch in 1951. A year later in 1952, Luthuli led the Defiance Campaign to protest the pass laws and other laws of apartheid. As a result, the government removed him from his chief position as he refused to choose between being
768-478: A job at Adams College, where he worked with people of different ethnicities from all over South Africa, to become a Zulu chief appeared to be a move towards a more insular way of life. Luthuli opted for the role of chief and said he was not motivated by a desire for wealth, fame, or power. At the end of 1935, he was elected as chief and relocated to Groutville . He commenced his duties in January 1936 and continued in
864-617: A member of the Natives Representative Council through a by-election. He brought his long-standing grievances about insufficient land for African people to the NRC meetings. In August 1946, Luthuli, along with other councilors, objected to the government's use of force to quell a large strike by African mineworkers. Luthuli accused the government of disregarding African complaints against their segregationist policies, and African councilors adjourned in protest. He would later describe
960-498: A member of the ANC or a chief at Groutville. In the same year, he was elected President-General of the ANC. After the Sharpeville massacre , where sixty-nine Africans were killed, leaders within the ANC such as Nelson Mandela believed the organisation should take up armed resistance against the government. Luthuli was initially against the use of violence. He later gradually came to accept it, but stayed committed to nonviolence on
1056-406: A minor celebrity status among some white people, which caused the government to view him with more contempt. When news of his ban spread, supporters of all races gathered to bid farewell to Luthuli. While Luthuli was still under a banning order, the ANC, led by Luthuli, announced an anti-pass campaign starting at the end of March 1960. The recently created Pan-Africanist Congress , who split from
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#17328557881771152-436: A personal level. Following four banning orders , the imprisonment and exile of his political allies, and the banning of the ANC, Luthuli's power as President-General gradually waned. The subsequent creation of uMkhonto we Sizwe , the ANC's paramilitary wing, marked the anti-apartheid movement's shift from nonviolence to an armed struggle. Inspired by his Christian faith and the nonviolent methods used by Gandhi , Luthuli
1248-769: A possible political strike. In December of that year, leaders in the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), such as Nelson Mandela , Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo , took power. The African National Congress (ANC) also "adopts the Programme of Action" on 17 December, which advocated a more militant approach to protesting apartheid. In 1950, the ANC started promoting demonstrations, mass action, boycotts, strikes and acts of civil disobedience. During this time, 8,000 black people were arrested "for defying apartheid laws and regulations". The South African Indian Congress (SAIC) worked in partnership with
1344-593: A result of laws passed that controlled their social mobility. The Hertzog Bills were introduced a year after Luthuli was elected chief and were instrumental in the restriction and control of Africans. The first bill, the Natives Representation Bill, removed Africans from the voters' roll in the Cape and created the Natives Representative Council (NRC). The second bill, the Natives Land and Trust Bill, restricted
1440-520: A teaching degree in 1917. Around the age of nineteen years old, Luthuli's first job after graduation came as a principal at a rural intermediate school in Blaauwbosch, located in the Natal midlands. The school was small, and Luthuli was the sole teacher working there. While teaching at Blaauwbosch, Luthuli lived with a Methodist's family. As there were no Congregational churches around him, he became
1536-728: A way to bring freedom to South Africa. After convening a secret meeting in December 1954 due to Luthuli's ban, the Congress of the People took place in Kliptown, Johannesburg, in June 1955. Inspired by the values held in the United States Declaration of Independence and the UN Declaration of Human Rights , the Congress of the People developed the Freedom Charter , a list of demands for
1632-604: Is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions in the fight for freedom in South Africa. After his second banning order expired in July 1956, he was arrested on 5 December and detained during the preliminary Treason Trial hearings in 1957. Luthuli was one of 156 leaders who were arrested on charges of high treason due to their opposition to apartheid and the Nationalist Party government . High treason carried
1728-700: Is to help us shout louder." — Albert Luthuli's response to claims that the Native Representative Council was ineffective. The Natives Representative Council (NRC), an advisory body to the government, was established in 1936 with the purpose of compensating and appeasing the African population, who had lost their limited voting rights in the Cape Province due to the enactment of the Hertzog Bills. In 1946, after John Dube's death, Luthuli became
1824-543: The Defiance Campaign , Sophiatown removals protest, and the Congress of the People . Following the preparatory examination period that began on 19 December 1956, all defendants were released on bail . The pre-trial examination concluded in December 1957, resulting in charges being dropped against 65 of the accused, including Luthuli who was acquitted . The trial for the remaining 91 accused individuals began in August 1958 as
1920-674: The Ohlange Institute . Ohlange was founded by John Dube , who was the school principal at the time Luthuli attended. Dube was educated in America but returned to South Africa to open the Ohlange Institute to provide an education to black children. He was the first President-General of the South African Native National Congress and founded the first Zulu-language newspaper, Ilanga lase Natal . Luthuli joined
2016-565: The Second Matabele War to serve with the Rhodesian forces . When the war ended, John stayed in Rhodesia with a Seventh-day Adventist mission near Bulawayo and worked as an interpreter and evangelist . Mtonya and Alfred then travelled to Rhodesia to reunite with John, and Luthuli was born there soon after. Luthuli's paternal grandparents, Ntaba ka Madunjini and Titsi Mthethwa, were born in
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#17328557881772112-617: The South African Indian Congress and the white Congress of Democrats , frequently drawing a backlash from Africanists in the ANC. The Africanist bloc believed that Africans should not ally themselves with other races, since Africans were the most disadvantaged race under apartheid. This schism led to the creation of the Pan-Africanist Congress . Albert John Luthuli was born at the Solusi Mission Station,
2208-559: The Soviet Union . The ANC ratified the Charter at a conference one year after it was ratified by the Congress of the People. Luthuli was not able to attend the Congress of the People or the framing of the Freedom Charter due to a stroke and heart attack as well as the banning order that confined him to Groutville. In his absence, he was bestowed the honour of the Isitwalandwe , which
2304-536: The Special Branch handed him new banning orders, not only prohibiting the attendance of meetings but confining him to the Groutville area for two years until July 1956. In 1953, Z. K. Matthews proposed a large democratic convention, to be known as the Congress of the People , where all South Africans would be invited to create a Freedom Charter . Despite complaints within the ANC from Africanists who believed
2400-554: The United States . Albert Luthuli was tried for treason , was assaulted and deposed of his chieftaincy of his Zulu clan. Mandela took over the ANC after Luthuli. Apartheid was finally ended in the early 1990s, as marked by the 1994 South African general election , the first South African election held using universal adult suffrage. The Red Location is one of the oldest settled black townships of Port Elizabeth , Nelson Mandela Bay , South Africa . It derives its name from
2496-521: The University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape . He refused, as he wanted to earn a salary to take care of his ageing mother. This led him to accept a teaching position at Adams College, where he and Z. K. Matthews were among the first African teachers at the school. Luthuli taught Zulu history, music , and literature, and during his time as a teacher, he met his future wife, Nokukhanya Bhengu. She
2592-512: The Vryheid district of Northern Natal, and resided on the farm of a Seventh-day Adventist. During this time, Luthuli was responsible for tending to the missionary's mules as educational opportunities were not available. Luthuli's mother recognised his need for a formal education and sent him to live in Groutville under the care of his uncle. Groutville was a small village inhabited predominantly by poor Christian farmers who were affiliated with
2688-454: The death penalty . One of the main charges against the African National Congress leaders were that they were involved in a communist conspiracy to overthrow the government. Anti-apartheid activists were often accused of being communists, and Luthuli was accustomed to such accusations and frequently dismissed them. The charges brought against the accused covered the period from 1 October 1952 to 13 December 1956, which included events such as
2784-641: The surname Luthuli . If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name (s) to the link. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Luthuli&oldid=1044862181 " Categories : Surnames Surnames of African origin Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description with empty Wikidata description All set index articles Albert Luthuli Albert John Luthuli ( c. 1898 – 21 July 1967)
2880-510: The 1960 Nobel Peace Prize , becoming the first African to win the award. He was awarded the prize for his use of nonviolent methods in his fight against racial discrimination. His nomination was put forward by Andrew Vance McCracken, the editor of Advance , a Congregational Church magazine . His name was supported by Norwegian Socialist MPs who nominated him in February 1961. Defiance Campaign The Defiance Campaign against Unjust Laws
2976-445: The ANC adopt a self-defense platform. With the government's bans on the ANC and nonviolent protests, Mandela believed waiting for revolutionary conditions to arise, which was favoured by communist members, was not an option. Instead, the ANC had to adapt to their new underground conditions and draw inspiration from successful uprisings in Cuba , Algeria , and Vietnam . Mandela argued that
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3072-577: The ANC because of their opposition to the ANC's multi-racial alliances, decided to jump ahead of the ANC's planned protest by ten days. On 21 March the PAC called for all African men to go to police stations and hand over their passbooks. The peaceful march in Sharpeville resulted in sixty-nine people killed by police fire . Additionally, three people were also killed in Langa . Luthuli and several other ANC leaders ceremonially burned their passbooks in protest against
3168-420: The ANC during South Africa's state of emergency , were determined to steer the ANC in a new direction. In May 1961, following a strike , they believed that " traditional weapons of protest … were no longer appropriate." They constantly evaluated whether the conditions were favourable to launch an armed resistance. In June 1961, during a National Executive Committee Working Group session, Mandela proposed that
3264-415: The ANC in 1944, partially out of respect to his former school principal. Luthuli describes his experience at the Ohlange Institute as "rough-and-tumble." The outbreak of World War I led to rationing and a scarcity of food among the African population. After attending Ohlange for only two terms, Luthuli was transferred to Edendale, a Methodist school near Pietermaritzburg , the capital of Natal . It
3360-523: The ANC in its most difficult years; many of his executive members, such as Secretary-General Walter Sisulu , Moses Kotane , JB Marks , and David Bopape were either to be banned or imprisoned. The 1950s witnessed the erosion of black civil liberties, through the Treason Trial and the passage of the Suppression of Communism Act , which gave the police power to suppress government critics. On 30 May 1953,
3456-529: The ANC leaders decided to end the campaign in January 1953. Prior to the campaign, the ANC's membership numbered 25,000 in 1951. After the conclusion of the Campaign in 1953, it had increased to 100,000. For the first time African, Indian, and Coloured communities across the country cooperated on a national scale. The Defiance Campaign was also praised for its absence of violence. Even though there were thousands of protesters and some incidents of violence occurred,
3552-495: The ANC members were ill-prepared without modern firearms and battlefield experience. In a following meeting a day later, a contentious back-and-forth arose. Supporters of armed defence believed the ANC was afraid and running from a physical fight while others believed counter-violence would provoke the government into arresting and killing them. While Luthuli did not support an armed struggle, he also did not oppose it. According to Mandela, Luthuli suggested "two separate streams of
3648-481: The ANC should not work with other races, a multiracial organization, the Congress Alliance , was created as part of the preparation for the Congress of the People. The alliance was led by the ANC and included the South African Indian Congress , Coloured Peoples Conference, Federation of South African Women , Congress of Trade Unions, and the Congress of Democrats . Luthuli viewed the multiracial organisation as
3744-408: The ANC was the only anti-apartheid organisation that had the capacity to adopt an armed struggle and if they didn't take the lead, they would fall behind in their own movement. In July 1961, the ANC and Congress Alliance met to hold debates during an ANC NEC meeting surrounding the feasibility of Nelson Mandela's proposal of armed self-defence. Luthuli did not support an armed struggle as he believed
3840-544: The ANC with the support of the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) and African communists. Nelson Mandela was elected as his deputy. The ANCYL's support for Luthuli reflected its desire for a leader who would enact its programmes and goals, and marked a pattern of younger, more militant members within the ANC ousting presidents they deemed inflexible. The ANCYL had previously succeeded in removing Xuma , Moroka , and Champion when they no longer met their expectations. Luthuli led
3936-532: The ANC. Black volunteers burned their pass books . Other black volunteers would go into places that were considered "whites-only," which was then against the law. These volunteers were arrested, with the most arrests (over 2,000 people) being made in October 1952. When protesters were arrested, they would not defend themselves in court, "leading to large-scale imprisonment". Others who were offered fines as an alternative choice to go to prison. The mass imprisonment, it
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4032-586: The ANC. Following the expiration of his ban, Luthuli continued to attend and speak at anti-apartheid conferences. In mid-1954, following the expiration of his ban, Luthuli was due to lead a protest in the Transvaal against the Western Areas Removals, a government scheme where close to 75,000 Africans were forced to move from Sophiatown and other townships . As he stepped off his plane in Johannesburg ,
4128-613: The ANC. The NP used the Population Registration Act to ensure that individuals were permanently classified by race and only allowed to live in areas specified by the Group Areas Act . On 26 June 1950, the National Day of Protest took place. The ANC asked that people not go to work as an act of protest. As a result of the protest, many people lost their jobs and the ANC set up a fund to help them. The Defiance Campaign
4224-703: The Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW) in the mid 1950s. Veronica Sobukwe (27 July 1927 – 15 August 2018), spouse of Robert Sobukwe , played an integral role in the Defiance Campaign. Her family was constantly harassed by the police. The ANC 's Regional Headquarters in Nelson Mandela Bay was renamed Florence Matomela House in November 2012. Angie Motshekga , the Minister of Basic Education and President of
4320-452: The NRC as a "toy telephone" requiring him to "shout a little louder" even though no one was listening. The NRC reconvened later in 1946 but adjourned again indefinitely. Its members refused to co-operate with the government, which caused it to become ineffective. The NRC never met after that point and it was disbanded by the government in 1952. Luthuli frequently addressed the criticism from black South Africans who believed that serving in
4416-469: The Natal ANC in preparation for the planned Defiance Campaign, a large act of civil disobedience by non-white South Africans. Some members of the ANC did not support his request, and he was jeered at and labelled a coward. However, Luthuli had no prior knowledge of this planned campaign and only found out about it as he was travelling to Bloemfontein , where the ANC's national conference was held. Many of
4512-524: The Natal and Zululand Bantu Cane Growers' Association, which he served as chairman. The association brought almost all African cane growers into a single union. It had very few achievements, but one of them was securing indirect representation on the central board through a non-white advisory board that was concerned with the production, processing, and marketing of sugar. The structural inequalities and discrimination present in South African society hindered
4608-484: The Native Representative Council would lead to nothing but talk, and that the NRC was a form of deceit served by the South African government . He often agreed with these sentiments, but he and other contemporary African leaders believed that Africans should represent themselves in all structures created by the government , even if only to change them. He was determined to take the demands and grievances of his people to
4704-602: The Sharpeville massacre. Following a state of emergency and the passing of the Unlawful Organisations Act , the government banned the PAC and the ANC. Luthuli and other political leaders were arrested and found guilty of burning their passbooks. In August, Luthuli was fined 100 pounds and initially sentenced to six months in jail . However, in September, this was later reduced to a three year suspended sentence on
4800-572: The South African Minister of Justice , Charles Swart . Arrests of peaceful protestors "disgusted a section of white public opinion". In July 1952, there were raids of ANC and SAIC offices. As a result of the protests, the NP started "imposing stiff penalties for protesting discriminatory laws" and then they created the Public Safety Act . The goals of the Defiance Campaign were not met, but
4896-547: The Teachers' Association and Zulu Society, Luthuli felt compelled to reject the government as a potential collaborator. The 1936 Sugar Act limited production of sugar in order to keep the price from falling. A quota system was implemented, and, for African cane growers, it was severely limiting. As a response Luthuli decided to revive the Groutville Cane Growers' Association of which he became chairman. The association
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#17328557881774992-466: The Treason Trial commenced. By 1959, only thirty of the accused remained. The trial concluded on 29 March 1961 as all of the remaining defendants were found not guilty . Many of the lawyers who defended the accused were drawn by Luthuli and Z. K. Matthews being on trial. Their involvement contributed to raising global awareness and support for the accused. The impression that Luthuli made on
5088-658: The Zulu Language and Cultural Society was to secure government recognition of the Zulu royal family as the official leaders of the Zulu people. The preservation of Zulu tradition and custom was a secondary goal. Grants and gifts from the South African Native Affairs Department as well as the society's involvement with the Zulu royal house led to its demise as it collapsed in 1946. Seeing no real progress being made by
5184-503: The association's efforts to promote the interests of non-white canegrowers, and they proved to be little match for the white canegrowers' associations. As with the Teachers' Association, Luthuli was disappointed with the Growers' Association's few successes. He believed that whatever political role he took part in, the stubbornness and hostility of the government would prevent any significant progress from being made. Luthuli continued to support
5280-482: The care of his uncle. After graduating from high school with a teaching degree, Luthuli became principal of a small school in Natal where he was the sole teacher. He accepted a government bursary to study for the Higher Teacher's Diploma at Adams College . After the completion of his studies in 1922, he accepted a teaching position at Adams College where he was one of the first African teachers. In 1928, he became
5376-407: The community. He was a people's chief." Luthuli involved women, who were considered socially inferior, in the decision-making process of his leadership. He also improved their economic status by allowing them to engage in activities such as beer brewing and running unlicensed bars , despite a government prohibition on these practices. The position of Africans in the reserves continued to regress as
5472-403: The concept of Ubuntu, which emphasized the humanity of all people, and governed with an inclusive and democratic approach. He believed that traditional Zulu governance was inherently democratic, with chiefs obligated to respond to the needs of their people. Luthuli was seen as a chief of his people: one community member remembered Luthuli as a "man of the people who had a very strong influence over
5568-471: The condition that he would not be found guilty of a similar offense during that time. Following his return from prison to Groutville , Luthuli's power began to wane due to the banning of the ANC and the banning and imprisonment of supporting leaders, a decline in his health since his stroke and heart attack, and the rise of members in the ANC advocating for an armed struggle. Duma Nokwe , Walter Sisulu , and Nelson Mandela , who had provided leadership for
5664-564: The details about the campaign were given to his predecessor, A.W.G Champion. The Natal ANC agreed to prepare for the Defiance Campaign, which was slated for the latter half of 1952, and participate as soon as they were ready. The preparations for the Defiance Campaign began on 6 April 1952, while the campaign itself was scheduled for 26 June 1952. The preparation day served as a warm-up, with large demonstrations in cities such as Cape Town , Port Elizabeth , East London , Pretoria , and Durban . Concurrently, many White South Africans observed
5760-425: The early 1960s. The stated goal of uMkhonto we Sizwe was to cripple South Africa's economy without bloodshed and force the government into negotiating. Mandela explained to Luthuli that only attacks against military installations, transportation links, and power plants would be carried out, which eased Luthuli's fears of the potential of loss of life. In October 1961, during his most severe ban yet, Luthuli received
5856-670: The early nineteenth century and had fought against potential annexation from Shaka's Zulu Kingdom. They were also among the first converts of Aldin Grout , a missionary from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABM), which was based near the Umvoti River north of Durban . The abasemakholweni, a converted Christian community within the Umvoti Mission Station, elected Ntaba as their chief in 1860. This marked
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#17328557881775952-435: The efforts of the Defiance Campaign, the government's attitude remained unchanged, and they viewed the event as " communist-inspired " and a threat to law and order. This perception led to increased security measures and tighter controls. The Criminal Law Amendment Act allowed for individuals to be banned without trial, and the Public Safety Act allowed the government to suspend rule of law . With more restrictions put in place,
6048-441: The election meeting, Luthuli was unexpectedly appointed as acting chair. Serving on Champion's executive, Luthuli remained politically active. However, the Youth League's adoption of a more confrontational Programme of Action in 1949 led to growing dissatisfaction with Champion's leadership, as he prioritised Natal's separateness over the new strategy. Champion frequently failed to implement strategies and programmes set forth by
6144-464: The end of October, the Defiance Campaign remained nonviolent and disciplined. As the movement gained momentum, violence suddenly flared. The outbreaks were not a planned part of the campaign, and many, including Luthuli, believe it to be the work of provocateur agents . The police , frustrated by the passive resistors, responded harshly when outbreaks of violence occurred, resulting in a chain reactions that caused dozens of Africans to be shot. Despite
6240-417: The foreigners who came to observe the trial led him to be suggested for the Nobel Peace Prize . On 25 May 1959, the government served Luthuli his third banning order, which lasted for five years. This ban prevented Luthuli from attending any meeting held within South Africa and confined him to his home district. Luthuli's democratic values had been recognised by many white South Africans, and he had gained
6336-436: The government banned Luthuli for a year, prohibiting him from attending any political or public gatherings and from entering major cities. He was restricted to small towns and private meetings for the rest of 1953. The Riotous Assemblies Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act provided the legal framework for the issuing of banning orders. It was the first of four banning orders that Luthuli would receive as President-General of
6432-451: The government. In the end, like others before him, Luthuli realized that his efforts were futile. In an interview with Drum Magazine in May 1953, Luthuli said that joining the NRC gave White South Africans "a last chance to prove their good faith" but they "had not done so". After John Dube suffered a stroke in 1945, Allison Champion succeeded him as Natal president in 1945 after defeating conservative leader Reverend A. Mtimkulu. During
6528-491: The home of his uncle, Chief Martin Luthuli, and his family. Martin was the first democratically elected chief of Groutville. In 1901, Martin founded the Natal Native Congress, which would later become the Natal branch of the African National Congress. Luthuli had a pleasant childhood as his uncle Martin was guardian over many children in Groutville, which led to Luthuli having many friends of his own age. In Martin's traditional Zulu household, Luthuli completed chores expected of
6624-447: The ideological basis for the National Party's Bantu Education policy . After becoming disappointed with the Natal Native Teachers' Association's slow progress, Luthuli shifted his attention to establishing a new branch of the Teachers' Association called the Zulu Language and Cultural Society in 1935. Dinizulu , the Zulu king , served as one of the society's patrons , and John Dube served as its inaugural president. Luthuli described
6720-447: The interests of black cane growers, and was the only black representative on the central board until 1953. In 1933, Luthuli was asked to succeed his uncle, Martin, as chief of the Umvoti River Reserve. He took two years to make his decision. His salary as a teacher was enough for him to send money home to support his family, but if he accepted the chieftainship he would earn less than one-fifth of his current salary. Furthermore, leaving
6816-427: The land available to the African population of 12 million to less than 13 per cent. The remaining 87 per cent of land in South Africa was primarily reserved for the white population of approximately 3 million in 1936. Limited access to land and poor agricultural technology negatively affected the people of Groutville, and the government's policies led to a shortage of land, education, and job opportunities, which limited
6912-423: The low level of violence overall was a notable accomplishment. Due to Luthuli's role in the Defiance Campaign as president of the Natal ANC, he was given an ultimatum by the government to choose between his work as a chief at Umvoti or his affiliation with the ANC. He refused to choose, and the government deposed him as chief in November 1952. In December 1952, Albert Luthuli was elected president general of
7008-523: The national ANC or Youth League, which made the Natal ANC lag behind. Members of the Youth League in Natal nominated Luthuli for Natal president in 1951 as they viewed him as a new brand of leadership. Luthuli and Champion were the two nominees for the election; Luthuli was elected president of the Natal ANC by a small majority. In Luthuli's first appearance as Natal ANC president at the ANC's national conference, he pleaded for more time to be given to
7104-461: The nearby mission station run by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABM). The ABM, which commenced operations in Southern Africa in 1834, was a Congregationalist organisation responsible for setting up the Umvoti Mission Station. After the death of ABM missionary Aldin Grout in 1894, the town surrounding the mission station was renamed Groutville. Luthuli resided in
7200-403: The potential achievements of the population. Luthuli viewed the conditions of Groutville as a microcosm that affected all black people in South Africa. It was only too true. For years now they had talked. Nobody listened. I was disillusioned myself, and could only reply, "There are people beyond South Africa who sometimes hear what we say. All we can do is try to shout to the world. All I can do
7296-665: The president of the association in 1933. The association had three goals: improving working conditions for African teachers, motivating members to expand their skills, and encouraging members to participate in leisure activities such as sports , music and social gatherings . Despite making little progress in achieving its stated goals, the association is remembered for its opposition to the Chief Inspector for Native Education in Natal, Charles Loram, and his proposal that Africans be educated in "practical functions" and left to "develop along their own lines". Loram's position would serve as
7392-608: The protests "demonstrated large-scale and growing opposition to apartheid". The United Nations took note and called the apartheid policy a "threat to peace". In the middle of April 1953, Chief Albert Luthuli , the President-General of the ANC, proclaimed that the Defiance Campaign would be called off so that the resistance groups could reorganize taking into consideration the new political climate in South Africa. The Defiance Campaigns, including bus boycotts in South Africa, served as an inspiration to Civil Rights Activists in
7488-405: The purpose of the society as the preservation of what is valuable to Zulu culture while removing the inappropriate practices and beliefs. Luthuli's involvement with the society was brief, as he assumed the role of chief in Groutville and could not remain actively involved. As a result, the society's goals changed from its original purpose. According to historian Shula Marks , the primary goal of
7584-436: The role until he was deposed by the South African government in 1952. Some chiefs abused their power and used their close relationship with the government to act as dictators. They increased their wealth by claiming ownership of land that was not rightfully theirs, charged excessive fees for services, and accepted bribes to resolve disputes. Despite his reduced salary as a chief, Luthuli rejected corrupt practices. He embraced
7680-586: The royal household of King Cetshwayo in Zululand . Mtonya had converted to Christianity and lived with the American Board Mission prior to her marriage to John Luthuli. During her stay, she learned how to read and became a dedicated reader of the Bible until her death. Despite being able to read, Mtonya never learned how to write. After their marriage, Luthuli's father left Natal and went to Rhodesia during
7776-615: The secretary of the Natal Native Teachers' Association, then its president in 1933. Luthuli's entered South African politics and the anti-apartheid movement in 1935, when he was elected chief of the Umvoti River Reserve in Groutville. As chief, he was exposed to the injustices facing many Africans due to the South African government's increasingly segregationist policies. This segregation would later evolve into apartheid ,
7872-502: The start of a family tradition, as Ntaba's brother, son Martin, and grandson Albert were also subsequently elected as chiefs. Around 1908 or 1909, the Seventh-day Adventists expressed their interest in beginning missionary work in Natal and requested the services of Luthuli's brother, Alfred, to work as an interpreter. Luthuli and his mother followed, and departed Rhodesia to return to South Africa. Luthuli's family settled in
7968-497: The struggle": the ANC, which would remain nonviolent, and a "military movement [that] should be a separate and independent organ, linked to the ANC and under the overall control of the ANC, but fundamentally autonomous". The formation of uMkhonto we Sizwe was part of a larger shift towards armed resistance in southern Africa. Other militant organisations were created in South West Africa , Mozambique , and Southern Rhodesia in
8064-600: The student of a local Methodist minister , the Reverend Mthembu. He was confirmed in the Methodist church and later became a lay preacher . Luthuli proved himself to be a good teacher and the Natal Department of Education offered him a bursary in 1920 to study for a Higher Teacher's Diploma at Adams College . Following the completion of his two years of study, he was offered another bursary, this time to study at
8160-615: The three-hundredth anniversary of Jan van Riebeeck's landing at the Cape . Beginning in June, around 8500 volunteers of the ANC and South African Indian Congress , who were carefully selected to follow the method of nonviolent resistance , deliberately set out to break the laws of apartheid . Using strategies inspired by Gandhi , the Defiance Campaign required a strict adherence to a policy of nonviolence . Africans , Indians , and Coloureds used amenities marked "Europeans Only"; they sat on benches and used reserved station platforms, carriages in trains, and post office counters. Until
8256-544: Was a South African anti-apartheid activist , traditional leader , and politician who served as the President-General of the African National Congress from 1952 until his death in 1967. Luthuli was born to a Zulu family in 1898 at a Seventh-day Adventist mission in Bulawayo , Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). In 1908 he moved to Groutville , where his parents and grandparents had lived, to attend school under
8352-419: Was also a teacher at Adams and the granddaughter of a Zulu chief. Luthuli was committed to providing quality education to African children and led the Teachers' College at Adams where he trained aspiring teachers and travelled to different institutions to teach students. Luthuli was elected as the secretary of the Natal Native Teachers' Association in 1928 and served under Z. K. Matthews' presidency. He became
8448-443: Was at Edendale that Luthuli participated in his first act of civil disobedience . He joined a protest against a punishment which made boys carry large stones long distances, damaging their uniforms , and leaving many unable to afford replacements. The demonstration failed and Luthuli along with the rest of the strikers were punished by the school. At Edendale, Luthuli developed a passion for teaching and went on to graduate with
8544-674: Was born in Port Elizabeth near the railway line in Red Location . She was an active shop steward and founding member of the Federation of South African Women in 1954. Her family was forced out of New Brighton during the 1940s. She was also one of the four women who led the Women's March on the Union buildings to oppose the pass laws in 1956. Nontuthuzelo Mabala marched against the pass laws in 1956. She
8640-618: Was hoped, would overwhelm the government. The South African government labelled the protests as acts of anarchy , communism and disorder. The Nationalist newspaper, the Oosterlig , wrote that the protesters "find prison a pleasant abode. These people only understand the lash." Police often used batons to force protesters to submit. On 9 November 1952, police fired on a group of black protesters in Kimberley killing 14 and injuring 39. Other orders to shoot demonstrators "on sight" were issued by
8736-511: Was jailed at the age of 24 for six years for the role she played in the struggle against Apartheid . Florence Matomela (1910–1969) was a South African anti-pass law activist, communist, civil rights campaigner, ANC veteran, teacher and mother who dedicated her life to fighting against Apartheid laws in South Africa. Matomela was the provincial organiser of the African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) and vice-president of
8832-417: Was launched on 26 June 1952, the date that became the yearly National Day of Protest and Mourning. The South African police were alerted about the action and were armed and prepared. In major South African cities, people and organizations performed acts of defiance and civil disobedience. The protests were largely non-violent on the parts of the participants, many of whom wore tri-color armbands signifying
8928-649: Was one of the first women arrested. Key role players of this Defiance Campaign included: Nosipho Dastile (1938–2009) was a well known political figure and founder of the United Democratic Front . She was the first president of the Uitenhage Women's Organisation and was the chairperson of the ANC Women's League in Uitenhage, after the unbanning of liberation movements in the 1990s. Lillian Diedericks (1925–2021)
9024-519: Was praised for his dedication to nonviolent resistance against apartheid as well as his vision of a non-racial South African society. In 1961, Luthuli was awarded the 1960 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in leading the nonviolent anti-apartheid movement. Luthuli's supporters brand him as a global icon of peace similar to Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr , the latter of whom was a follower and admirer of Luthuli. He formed multi-racial alliances with
9120-816: Was presented by the African National Congress (ANC) at a conference held in Bloemfontein, South Africa in December 1951 . The Campaign had roots in events leading up the conference. The demonstrations, taking place in 1952, were the first "large-scale, multi-racial political mobilization against apartheid laws under a common leadership". In 1948, the National Party (NP) won the election in South Africa and began to impose apartheid measures against Black people, Indians and any people of mixed race. The NP restricted political power to white people only and allocated areas of South Africa for different races of people. Workers, trade unionists and others spoke out on 6 October 1949 against these apartheid measures and began to discuss
9216-473: Was used to make collective bargaining and advocacy more effective. The association achieved a significant victory: an amendment was made to the Sugar Act that allowed African cane growers to have a comprehensive quota. This meant if some farmers were unable to meet their individual quotas, others could make up the difference, ensuring that all cane would be sold and not wasted in the farms. Luthuli then founded
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