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Anton Muzibakhe Lembede was born on the 21st of January 1914 on the farm of Frank Fell in Eston, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Anton was the eldest of 7 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 Catholic Inkanyezi School.
Education
In 1933, Lembede enrolled at Adam’s college, which at the time, was one of the more prestigious “native” schools at the time, it saw students coming from as far as central Africa to enrol. Lembede enrolled for the “Native Teachers Higher Primary Certificate(later renamed T3).In 1936 after graduating from Adam’s College, he took up a few teachinf 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 K. Seme’s law firm. Briefly practiced law for a while.
ANCYL
Lembede was the principal thinker behind launching the African National Congress Youth Leaugue.( http://pzacad.pitzer.edu/NAM/newafrre/writers/lembede/lembedeS.htm) So in 1944, together with, Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo,Walter Sisulu, Jordan Ngubane, Ellen Kuzwayo, Albertina Sisulu, A.P. Mda, Dan Tloome, and David Bopape. He went on to become the first president of the ANCYL.
Nelson Mandela in his autobiography Long Walk To Freedom (1995): “ Walter’s in Orlando was a mecca for activists and ANC members. . . 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. . .”
References
Robert Edgar, Anton Lembede and African Nationalism
(seminar paper)
Freedom in Our Time: Collected Writings Of Anton Lembede.
Nelson Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom
Black Atlantic
History For All (gr 11 textbook)