HISTORICALLY, most African intellectuals had been members of the ANC following its establishment. The record of intellectualism was expressed through the ANC. The organisation should return to its intellectual roots.
The development of South African intellectuals came about as a result of the establishment of missionary institutions of learning at the beginning of the 1850s.
A sizeable crop of such learned men and women emerged to face the oppressive conditions that had destined their communities and South Africa to the status ofperpetual suppliants.
The struggle that was waged by chiefs, kings and queens since the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck soon gave way to this crop of intellectuals.
The frontier wars had ended and the chiefs and kings were rendered weary and emasculated by the marauding dictates of imperialism and settler colonialism, evidenced by the post-1900 oppression which took effect after the so-called Anglo-Boer War.
The pen replaced the assegai, machete, spear and the shield as the new weapon in the hands of the oppressed.
The sons and daughters of peasants, wagon makers, sharecroppers, bywoners, migrant labourers and the unlettered embraced knowledge with greater gusto and frenzy and saw in education the only available liberatory tool at their disposal.
The dawn of the era of enlightenment descended on the shores of South Africa and the people that Wole Soyinka calls the "Interpreters" emerged and took over the cudgels of the Struggle.
Clad in European trousers, handling the weighty assortment of books, the new interpreters were unamused by their newly acquired status and station in society.
They too threw in their lot with the struggle for freedom and justice of their communities as they began a number of local organisations, church manyanos, cultural and writers' groups.
One such a powerful organisation was the Barolong Mutual Improvement Association, a forerunner of a modern Chamber of Commerce, led by the enigmatic Joel Goronyane.
He was the first Morolong graduate from Lovedale and ploughed back into his community by starting a school.
A generation of luminaries and sparkling leading lights of the African nation rose in revolt against the menacing conditions of deprivation and thralldom.
Their first quest was to wage a struggle against ignorance, tribalism and propagated the acceptance of modernism and its trappings. Mweli Skota lists such luminaries in his African Register book published in the 1920s.
The record of intellectuals and intellectualism in South Africa was synonymous with the ANC.
A few anecdotal historical facts prove this. The first African to obtain a BA degree at Fort Hare University was ZK Matthews, who was a member of the ANC.
The first African to obtain a Masters degree in philosophy at Unisa with distinction was the first president of the ANC Youth League Anton Mzwakhe Lembede. His thesis was titled: The Conception of God by Greek philosopher from Descartes to the Present.
Of the first two African students who passed the Joint Matriculation Board Examination, one was Oliver Tambo, a member of the ANC Youth League and later president of the ANC.
The first African to be admitted to the bar as an advocate was Duma Nokwe, a member of the ANC. The first African to obtain a Masters degree in English from Unisa was Eski'a Mphahlele, a member of the ANC.
The national poet of the time, the legendary SK Mqhayi, was also a member of the ANC.
It was not about how much money you had but about the command and possession of the cerebral capacity and devotion to the oppressed that qualified people to lead and be servants of the people.
These intellectuals were ardent and avowed political activists who joined and served the ANC withdistinction.
There were very few among the intellectuals who were not part of the ANC or any other political party of the African people.
To this end, the intellectual tradition of resistance was found, developed and thrived within the ANC. The ANC over the years produced a legion of scholars who broadened the Struggle to new frontiers.
The various mouthpieces such as Sechaba, The Lode Star, The Africanist and New Age produced scholarship and journalism of the highest standard and these were published by the ANC and its youth league respectively.
Writers were prodigious thinkers who possessed fecundity of thought and did much to influence and conscientised the public with prolific works and detailed research.
The ANC was a home and epicentre of robust ideas. Its leaders and members were avid readers and indefatigable activists.
These publications were preceded by ground-breaking journalism which was produced by leading ANC members.
The crop of African editors were among the people who founded the ANC, editors such as Langalibalele Dube of Ilanga Lase Natal, Sol Plaatje of Tsala ea Batswana, Territorial News of APO, Naledi ya Lesotho edited by F Monyankuanedi and Umlomo wa Bantu under LT Mvabaza.
It was to this end that one of the clauses in the first constitution spoke about the objectives of the ANC as being "the promotion of the educational, social, economic and political elevation of the native people of South Africa".
Education was a treasured commodity of the founding and successive generations of ANCleaders.
Skota told a story of an African who travelled from Lesotho to Lovedale on foot. On arrival he was evidently exhausted with swollen feet.
This native had braved the elements, wild animals, rivers and thugs.
When the missionaries opened the door at Lovedale they pitied his sight and asked him what he wanted. Standing erect he told them that he wanted to be educated and had no money, but a will andpassion.
Today, many of our children drop out of school when schooling is free and compulsory.
As we move to the centenary and beyond, we must take one thing from the founding fathers that stood them in good stead -education. The centenary must enjoin this burgeoning nation to the values and imperatives of education.
As we head to the centenary we need members and leaders who possess compassionate imagination and deep-rooted love for their people and nation.
The gauntlet is thrown to the young generation to emulate the valorous deeds of Lembede, AP Mda, Nokwe, AC Jordan, AB Xuma, Sophie Mpama, Edwin Thabo Mofutsanyana, Knox Bokwe and many others.
It is these and many other intellectuals and activists who have carried the hopes of the oppressed people on theirshoulders.
The clarion call must be made to the return to intellectualism and passionate commitment in the interest of the poor and disenchanted.
Otherwise we will confirm Walter Rubusane's prophetic warning dictum which was a title of his seminal book: Zemk'inkomo Magwala Ndini (Gone are your cattle you bloody cowards.)
- Ka Plaatjie is Free State Centenary Researcher and director of the Pan African Foundation
ANC has been home to many intellectuals
HISTORICALLY, most African intellectuals had been members of the ANC following its establishment. The record of intellectualism was expressed through the ANC. The organisation should return to its intellectual roots.
The development of South African intellectuals came about as a result of the establishment of missionary institutions of learning at the beginning of the 1850s.
A sizeable crop of such learned men and women emerged to face the oppressive conditions that had destined their communities and South Africa to the status ofperpetual suppliants.
The struggle that was waged by chiefs, kings and queens since the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck soon gave way to this crop of intellectuals.
The frontier wars had ended and the chiefs and kings were rendered weary and emasculated by the marauding dictates of imperialism and settler colonialism, evidenced by the post-1900 oppression which took effect after the so-called Anglo-Boer War.
The pen replaced the assegai, machete, spear and the shield as the new weapon in the hands of the oppressed.
The sons and daughters of peasants, wagon makers, sharecroppers, bywoners, migrant labourers and the unlettered embraced knowledge with greater gusto and frenzy and saw in education the only available liberatory tool at their disposal.
The dawn of the era of enlightenment descended on the shores of South Africa and the people that Wole Soyinka calls the "Interpreters" emerged and took over the cudgels of the Struggle.
Clad in European trousers, handling the weighty assortment of books, the new interpreters were unamused by their newly acquired status and station in society.
They too threw in their lot with the struggle for freedom and justice of their communities as they began a number of local organisations, church manyanos, cultural and writers' groups.
One such a powerful organisation was the Barolong Mutual Improvement Association, a forerunner of a modern Chamber of Commerce, led by the enigmatic Joel Goronyane.
He was the first Morolong graduate from Lovedale and ploughed back into his community by starting a school.
A generation of luminaries and sparkling leading lights of the African nation rose in revolt against the menacing conditions of deprivation and thralldom.
Their first quest was to wage a struggle against ignorance, tribalism and propagated the acceptance of modernism and its trappings. Mweli Skota lists such luminaries in his African Register book published in the 1920s.
The record of intellectuals and intellectualism in South Africa was synonymous with the ANC.
A few anecdotal historical facts prove this. The first African to obtain a BA degree at Fort Hare University was ZK Matthews, who was a member of the ANC.
The first African to obtain a Masters degree in philosophy at Unisa with distinction was the first president of the ANC Youth League Anton Mzwakhe Lembede. His thesis was titled: The Conception of God by Greek philosopher from Descartes to the Present.
Of the first two African students who passed the Joint Matriculation Board Examination, one was Oliver Tambo, a member of the ANC Youth League and later president of the ANC.
The first African to be admitted to the bar as an advocate was Duma Nokwe, a member of the ANC. The first African to obtain a Masters degree in English from Unisa was Eski'a Mphahlele, a member of the ANC.
The national poet of the time, the legendary SK Mqhayi, was also a member of the ANC.
It was not about how much money you had but about the command and possession of the cerebral capacity and devotion to the oppressed that qualified people to lead and be servants of the people.
These intellectuals were ardent and avowed political activists who joined and served the ANC withdistinction.
There were very few among the intellectuals who were not part of the ANC or any other political party of the African people.
To this end, the intellectual tradition of resistance was found, developed and thrived within the ANC. The ANC over the years produced a legion of scholars who broadened the Struggle to new frontiers.
The various mouthpieces such as Sechaba, The Lode Star, The Africanist and New Age produced scholarship and journalism of the highest standard and these were published by the ANC and its youth league respectively.
Writers were prodigious thinkers who possessed fecundity of thought and did much to influence and conscientised the public with prolific works and detailed research.
The ANC was a home and epicentre of robust ideas. Its leaders and members were avid readers and indefatigable activists.
These publications were preceded by ground-breaking journalism which was produced by leading ANC members.
The crop of African editors were among the people who founded the ANC, editors such as Langalibalele Dube of Ilanga Lase Natal, Sol Plaatje of Tsala ea Batswana, Territorial News of APO, Naledi ya Lesotho edited by F Monyankuanedi and Umlomo wa Bantu under LT Mvabaza.
It was to this end that one of the clauses in the first constitution spoke about the objectives of the ANC as being "the promotion of the educational, social, economic and political elevation of the native people of South Africa".
Education was a treasured commodity of the founding and successive generations of ANCleaders.
Skota told a story of an African who travelled from Lesotho to Lovedale on foot. On arrival he was evidently exhausted with swollen feet.
This native had braved the elements, wild animals, rivers and thugs.
When the missionaries opened the door at Lovedale they pitied his sight and asked him what he wanted. Standing erect he told them that he wanted to be educated and had no money, but a will andpassion.
Today, many of our children drop out of school when schooling is free and compulsory.
As we move to the centenary and beyond, we must take one thing from the founding fathers that stood them in good stead -education. The centenary must enjoin this burgeoning nation to the values and imperatives of education.
As we head to the centenary we need members and leaders who possess compassionate imagination and deep-rooted love for their people and nation.
The gauntlet is thrown to the young generation to emulate the valorous deeds of Lembede, AP Mda, Nokwe, AC Jordan, AB Xuma, Sophie Mpama, Edwin Thabo Mofutsanyana, Knox Bokwe and many others.
It is these and many other intellectuals and activists who have carried the hopes of the oppressed people on theirshoulders.
The clarion call must be made to the return to intellectualism and passionate commitment in the interest of the poor and disenchanted.
Otherwise we will confirm Walter Rubusane's prophetic warning dictum which was a title of his seminal book: Zemk'inkomo Magwala Ndini (Gone are your cattle you bloody cowards.)
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