Biography 1ANC centenary 2012
Albert Luthuli
Chief Albert Luthuli was the first African to receive the Nobel Prize for Peace for his role in the non-violent struggle against apartheid. He was president of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1952 until his death in 1967. A leader ahead of his time, he believed passionately in non-violence, non-racialism, democracy and human rights.
Born in 1898 in Zimbabwe, Albert moved to Groutville, South Africa when he was about ten to live with his uncle who was a local chief. Albert went to the local mission school followed by boarding school and then teacher training college. He was a professional educator for fifteen years and believed deeply in an equal education for all children – black and white.
In 1927 Albert married a fellow teacher, Nokukhanya Bhengu. They moved back to Groutville and started to raise a family of seven children. His strongly held Christian beliefs also led him to become a lay preacher. Under pressure from the elders of his tribe, Albert became Chief of the Groutville reserve in 1935. He became immersed in the everyday life of the area, sorting out the local problems and disputes of the 5,000 people of his tribe and defending their interests against the white authorities.
He became increasingly concerned about government laws which placed terrible restrictions upon the lives of black South Africans. In 1944 he joined the ANC and became involved in organising non-violent protests against the Pass Law which meant black people could not travel within their own country. In 1951, the government told him to withdraw his ANC membership or forfeit his office as tribal chief. He refused to leave the ANC and became its president-general.
Until the end of his life he was subjected to bans, arrests and imprisonment. Banning meant that he could not speak in public places, publish articles or travel more than a few miles from his home. In March 1960 he publicly burned his pass - a gesture of solidarity with demonstrators who had died in the ‘Sharpeville massacre’ – and was immediately arrested. In 1964, despite being banned and confined to his home, he still made his voice heard following the conviction of Nelson Mandela and seven others at the Rivonia Trial.
“Their (ANC leaders) policies are in accordance with the deepest international principles of brotherhood and humanity, without their leadership brotherhood and humanity may be blasted out of existence in South Africa for long decades to come.”
With his health failing, on 21 July 1967, while taking a walk near his Natal home, Chief Albert Luthuli was killed, reportedly when he was struck by a train.