Pioneers

Basil Davidson, who died aged 95 in 2010, was a radical journalist in the great anti-imperial tradition, and became a distinguished historian of pre-colonial Africa. An energetic and charismatic figure, he joined that legendary band of British soldiers who fought with the partisans in Yugoslavia and in Italy. Years later, he was the first reporter to travel with the guerrillas fighting the Portuguese in Angola and Guinea-Bissau, and brought their struggle to the world’s attention.

The Congo’s first Prime Minister after independence, Patrice Lumumba, was removed in a coup masterminded by the West. In his place, Mobutu Sese Seko) was installed, inaugurating a brutal and kleptocratic reign, which lasted until 1997. Patrice Lumumba, was murdered, cut up and dissolved in acid. His teeth, kept as a trophy in Belgium, will be returned to Africa.

The almost 200-year-old Eastern Cape publisher is facing closure, but a fundraising initiative that highlights its literary archive and importance as a cultural institution could save the press. This story was first published by New Frame. The legendary poet BW Vilakazi had the future in mind when he wrote: “To all the generations coming after/ Now gaze upon the valleys here at Lovedale.”

Phindi Xaba Apart from having become the first Nigerian president, Nnamdi Azikiwe was a Pan Africanist who revolutionised the West African newspaper industry. Like most African journalists who were propelled into the media space by fighting for liberation of the continent from colonisers, Dr Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, also known as “Zik” was no exception. Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, were all activists before they became journalists subsequently...

Suzette Nxumalo Mafuna Harry Mashabela, veteran journalist and writer passed away in August. His novels depict aspects of life in Soweto and black people's endless struggles against an obstinate and racist South African dictatorship. He hoped that exposing police brutality would help garner support for the black struggle. Veteran journalist and writer, Harry Mashabela, passed away on 23 August 2019 after a long battle with cancer. He was 89 years old. Mashabela was a journalist, writer and...

Jarome Klaaste Journalist Aggrey Klaaste was imprisoned 42 years ago during a police crackdown on anti-apartheid activists. His son reflects on those heady 1970s days and the state of South Africa today. All of this week, my mind kept racing back to a momentous event that took place on 19 October 1977. On that day, in one fell swoop, the apartheid government arrested a number of black political leaders and banned a host of community organisations aligned to the black consciousness cause. The...

A hometown hero who was once labelled enemy of the people

I was 19 in first year undergraduate school at the University of the Free State (UFS) in 2008, a year after Jacob Zuma rose to power at the Polokwane conference, amidst much controversy. Mosiuoa Lekota was one of those who went off to form and launch a break away opposition party Congress of the People (COPE). All roads led to UFS’s South Campus to hear Zuma’s condemnation of the breakaway party at an ANC-led meeting.

The pioneering black woman the world forgot

Nokutela Dube (1873 – January 1917)) was ahead of her time, she was the first South African woman to found a school. She was born to Christian converts at a missionary station at Inanda, near Durban. Her school, Ohlange Institute was founded in 1900 in Natal Province, the first school ever to be established by black teachers. It is still in existence today. A true legacy.

The sky is no limit

Born in London to Nigerian parents, eldest of three daughters, Mo Abudu’s dream has always been to change the negative narrative about the continent of Africa. Her parents would relocate to Lagos, Nigeria when she was seven, which gave her the opportunity to spend time with her grandparents who lived on a cocoa farm in Ondo State. While visiting she would learn about Nigerian culture, building a foundation for her later career decision.

ZB Molefe: In Memoriam. January 1944 —May 2019

Although at ZB’s it wasn’t so much the drama as the spirit taking responding to the proceedings conduction. Conducted by the ebullient MC, veteran journalist Phil “Bra Chippa” Molefe, the service resembled a blues, jazz, ragtag, funk and African gospel gumbo. Anecdotes, hot quips from family and friends, and musical traditions ranging from the blues to amaHobe entangled and climaxed into a multi-tribunal river of sounds of blackness.

Zuluboy Arthur Molefe: January 5 1944 – May 31 2019

Zuluboy Arthur Molefe was one of a kind. Few scribes matched his pedigree, energy, curiosity and resourcefulness. He and others of this fast fading breed and generation, to borrow a bit of poetry, sparkle, even half seen, on the stretched forefinger of time.Death being death, it has been unkind to us lately, first claiming aunty Juby Mayet, the activist and campaign journalist of her time…

13 October 1926 – 5 June 2019

A generation of staunch anti-apartheid activists are passing, and with them an ethos and a life time of activism. One of those was Raymond Louw, veteran journalist and freedom of expression campaigner, who died on 5 May, just 22 hours after his beloved wife Jean.Raymond Louw, was the former editor of the Rand Daily Mail and Sunday Times, founding member as well as long-standing Council Member of the South African National Editor’s Forum (Sanef),

January 5 1944 – May 31 2019

Zuluboy was the fearless African warrior who made me feel proud to be an African journalist and revel at being in his company.
It’s Monday morning in Toronto and Zuluboy “ZB” Arthur Molefe’s funeral was three days ago. There’s been no mention of my painstakingly prepared eulogy/tribute to my fellow journalist anywhere or by anyone. I don’t even care to know why it was excluded but I figure it’s OK to post it on Facebook essentially for his nephew,

The camera was his third eye through which he examined the world

Many who met and knew ace photographer Bongani Mnguni will attest to have been singularly struck by his gentle and laid-back demeanour. The veteran photographer, who was often harassed and beaten up by security forces while covering the brutality of apartheid, passed away on Sunday 14 April 2019 at the age of 65.Bongani Mnguni’s easy-going manner endeared one to his humble soul almost instantly.His handshake was unfailingly warm and, complemented by a glowing smile…

Tribute to a giant of the Arts

When news reached him that his home would be raided and he would be arrested, Qoopane made his way to the Bloemfontein railway station where he boarded a train with a one-way ticket to Lesotho. After leaving one of the stations, white railway police officers began searching the train and eventually reached his compartment.
Luckily shouts and screams from another carriage distracted them, and they did not return to his section.

“The brave and courageous”

It is with deep sadness that we learned of the passing on of veteran journalist and media icon and writer Juby Mayet. We are thankful that she was exemplary in her selflessness and service through the word. May her soul rest in peace.Veteran Drum journalist Juby Mayet was honoured for her role and contribution to journalism at the SABC.All she got was a bouquet of flowers and a travel bag as a present.

Madala Thepa Death recently snatched Veteran journalist and writer Zubeida “Juby” Mayet, a woman who had first-hand experience with the erstwhile apartheid system while practising journalism. She was an octagenarian whose full story had yet to be told in the memoirs she was working towards before her passing. The writer -  Madala Thepa -  is one of the fortunate few who managed to have a conversation with her almost three years ago and now shares fond memories of his experience in her company....

Journalist, activist and politician

Ethiopian media legend whose legacy remains engraved in the hearts and minds of her fellow country folks for her social change agency has nerves of steel. Once incarcerated without trial, her parents were imprisoned, her husband was executed for unknown reasons. She endured all this under the Derg regime but continued her unwavering civic activism until independence.

Businessman, minister, owner and editor of the Liberia’s first newspaper

Hilary Teague’s struggle for Liberia’s independence from the American Colonisation Society (ACS) is one that may have fallen through the cracks of history, but like his resilience it has emerged from the shadows over time.Hilary Teague’s contribution is being celebrated in contemporary times as the Father of Liberia’s independence and the foremost pioneer of Liberia’s media. His legacy has also become an interest in scholarly…

A spiritual force to be reckoned with

As this year marks half a century of Imam Abdullah Haron’s murder at the hands of the erstwhile and brutal apartheid’s security branch, the light of his conscious spiritual socio-political leadership and his editorship at the Muslim News keeps shining.Imam Abdullah Haron, born on 8 February 1924 in Newlands-Claremont, in the southern suburb of the Western Cape, was the youngest in a family of five, and still an infant when Asa Martin, his mother died. Since his father Amarien, was not able to care for him, his sister…

Claiming the narrative of Charlotte Maxeke for political gain

Charlotte Maxeke advocated for clean and truthful leadership. She resented token leadership. There is no way therefore that she would want to be treated as a token. She also would not appreciate that anyone uses her name for their political or other expediency.Anyone who had the opportunity to read Zubeida Jaffer’s book, Beauty of the Heart and Dr. Thozama April’s Doctoral thesis titled: Theorising Women: The Intellectual Contributions of Charlotte Maxeke…

Black women media pioneers take their place at the book festival

Editor of The Journalist’s Pioneers section, Phindile Xaba, will be at the Abantu Book Festival next weekend, speaking to festival goers about some of the historical media pioneers The Journalist has covered over the past four years. But her work is not as simple as dusting off volumes of the past, instead it’s a conscious effort to write back into history those black media pioneers, particularly women, who have been written out of the archives.

Tribute to Flaxman Qoopane (July 23, 1955 – November 22, 2017)

Flaxman Qoopane was a cultural activist, poet, writer and journalist passed away almost a year ago at the tender age of 62. During his time he churned out countless books and articles in a variety of publications and contributed immensely to African literature and academia at large. Some of his books include From My Diary, A Poet Abroad, Letters to a Poet (edited by Molebogeng Alitta Mokhuoa) as well as Adventures in Journalism…

From secretary to Sis Dolly to newsroom leader

It took patience for Liz Khumalo aka Sis Dolly to journey through the newsroom, first as Drum magazine’s secretary and agony aunt Sis Dolly, then as a journalist, executive editor, and finally editor-in-chief at the sunset of her career, at which time the historic magazine was read by over a million people per week.By the time the longest serving Drum magazine journalist and editor-in-chief Liz Khumalo retired…