The Biko legecy

Many people admire Steve Biko for what he has done not for what he was. I am saying this because sons and grandsons of the oppressors pretend to be feeling the same feeling we black people feel. Born into an Anglican family on the 18 December 1946, born six days before the Christmas day was a blessing to the black nation. I praise Biko because he was black and I am black, unlike most white people who pretend to like our heroes when commemorating them in gatherings to remember those who died in the apartheid period.

I wonder what Biko would have done when most of the black people he fought freedom for are following the generation of the people he fought against. Today black people are running away from their cultures and are faking white people, their accents, their way of addressing political views and even doing their rituals.

Steve Biko lived only for a short time but he is our historical icon and leader. I always wonder what changes Biko would have done to this becoming white South Africa, maybe he would be president or maybe he would be a retired president like the great Mandela or maybe he would have been a Minister of Education preaching that schools must use the student’s mother tongue for teaching and learning, but today most black people suffer learning due to the use of foreign languages.

Black people are leaders today but Biko is not here to witness the success he fought for, how I wish people rose from death, how I wish the next Biko emerges, how I wish our leaders could think black rather than thinking white.

Ruth Commemoration

Rhodes University, Barrett lecture theatre 2, Albie Sachs, friend and comrade of Ruth First delivered what he called an emotional talk he has ever done in his life time.

This was one of the lectures about the remembrance of Ruth First on campus. Sachs was emotional judging by his emotional and remembering words about his days with the legendary First.

He described Ruth as an elegant, strong white lady who was in an overwhelming black and white struggle for freedom and recognition of the oppressed in an apartheid South Africa. This is seen from the actions Ruth took during her living days.

“We didn’t fight to be poor or rich but to be free” said Sachs.

Though there were many women in the struggle, Sachs admired Ruth with a very special intensity because she saw herself much as a socialist, walked the cat walk, dressed nicely and she took men on a level of theory.

Sachs further recognised Ruth as a middle class woman who was more than keen to be around a struggling and workless people.

Other events that were related to the Ruth First commemoration were: “Academic Legacy of Ruth First” by Carla Tsampiras, “Activist Legacy of Ruth First” by Angelo Fick, “My Mother Ruth First” by her daughter Gillian Slovo and a Concert and Open Mic Session by Rhodes students.

“She believed you have to plan to get somewhere and she wasn’t just a good orator but explored on life experiences” Sachs explained from a perspective of knowing Ruth from the inside.

This was not just a lecture for students to only know that Ruth First was of importance to South Africa but to commemorate her and all what she has done for the country as a whole.

Sachs does not have his right arm, while in exile in Maputo, Mozambique in 1988 a bomb was placed in his car; he lost his arm and lost sight on one eye. This bomb was placed by South African security agents.

So far Ruth First’s remembrance has been a great success in the university, First was remembered with great honour.