Steve Biko died in police custody on September 12, 1977.(File, SABC)
Rector of the College of Transfiguration in Grahamstown,
Professor Barney Pityana, says anti-apartheid activist Stephen Bantu
Biko encouraged a dialogue that leads to empowerment.
Professor Pityana was speaking at the commemoration lecture of Steve Biko at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in Pretoria.
The memorial lecture was attended by high profile personnel such as
former national government minister Dr Mosibudi Mangena, Professor
Somadoda Fikeni, as well as UNISA Principal and Vice-Chancellor
Professor Mandla Makhanya.
The annual lecture is intended to keep Biko's legacy alive. Biko died in police custody on September 12 in 1977.
Professor Pityana says Biko encouraged meaningful conversation.
“One of Steve's seminal essays that is not recognised sufficiently is an essay that he titled, We Blacks. It was an essay about black people talking to black people.
“It was a family conversation. A family conversation that can be
true and robust and honest. A family conversation that could be about
how we fight meaningfully, but also how we identify problems and find
solutions together,” says Pityana.
No comments:
Post a Comment