This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Victuallers (talk | contribs) at 18:04, 3 August 2013 (→ANCYL: more). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 18:04, 3 August 2013 by Victuallers (talk | contribs) (→ANCYL: more)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Anton Lembede was a South African activist- who was the founding president of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL). He worked with Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo, wanting to reform the ANC which he described as 'a body of gentlemen with clean hands'. However, he never saw the eventual success of the black consciousness movement that ended with the South African black man winning his freedom; he died in 1947, aged 33.
Early Life
Anton Muzibakhe Lembede was born on the 21 January 1914 on the farm of Frank Fell in Eston, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Anton was the eldest of seven children born to Mbazwana Martin and Martha Nora MaLuthuli Lembede. His father Mbazwana Martin was a farm labourer and his mother was a teacher. Anton was home-schooled by his mother who taught him to read and write until grade four level. It was only when Anton turned 13 that he started his formal education at the Catholic Inkanyezi School.
Education
In 1933, Lembede enrolled at Adams College, which at the time, was one of the more prestigious “native” schools. It saw students coming from central Africa to enrol. Lembede enrolled for the “Native Teachers Higher Primary Certificate. In 1936 after graduating from Adams College, he took up teaching posts but also pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in his spare time, he majored in Philosophy and Roman Law. Lembede enrolled at the University of South Africa for a law degree and subsequently completed it in 1942. In conclusion, he registered for a Master of Arts Degree in Philosophy in 1943. He then submitted his thesis entitled “The Conception of God as Expounded by, or as it Emerges from the Writings of Philosophers- from Descartes to the Present Day" in 1945.
Career
He moved to Johannesburg after finishing his L.L.B and completed his articles at Pixley ka Isama Seme’s law firm. Briefly practiced law for a while. During this time he regularly met with Walter Sisulu, Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo (who went on to establish the first black South African law firm), discussing how they must win their freedom.
ANCYL
Lembede was the principal thinker behind launching the African National Congress Youth Leaugue.( ) So in 1943 he led Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Jordan Ngubane, Ellen Kuzwayo, Albertina Sisulu, A.P. Mda, Dan Tloome, and David Bopape to become the first president of the ANC Youth League.
Legacy
Lembede said "under the banner of Congress, African youth will triumphantly march to freedom – freedom within our lifetime".
Nelson Mandela wrote "One night in 1943 I met Anton Lembede, who held master of arts and bachelor of law degrees, and A. P. Mda. From the moment I heard Lembede speak, I knew I was seeing a magnetic personality who thought in original and often startling ways. . .”
In 2003 his bones were removed from and flown to Durban where they were reburied on 27 October 2002 at Madundube in Umbumbulu, Durban.
References
- Anton Lembede, Anton Lembede, Adams College Alumini biography, 3 August 2013
- Anton Lembede, pzacad.pitzer.edu, accessed 3 August 2013
- ^ "REMAINS OF LATE ANCYL LEMBEDE TO ARRIVE IN DURBAN". South African Government. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- Mandela in his autobiography Long Walk To Freedom (1995)
- Robert Edgar, Anton Lembede and African Nationalism
(seminar paper)
- Freedom in Our Time: Collected Writings Of Anton Lembede.
Black Atlantic
- History For All (gr 11 textbook)
- South Africa since 1948 (textbook)