Writer: Thami John | Photographs: Supplied
“The historical importance and evolution of the notion of ‘Zenibeyi mbumba yamaNyama’ (unity amongst Africans) can be fully comprehended in the context of the progression for the call for solidarity and unity among of Africans at different times and spaces… Ntsikana ka Gabha was the forerunner of the concept in modern history, as South Africa was at a crossroads of colonialism, wars of land dispossession, transculturation, and resistance against European settlers’ conquest at different levels. The conception of ‘Zenibeyi mbumba yamaNyama’ is a seminal statement, as it planted the seed for the modern model of Pan-Africanism.” – Prof. Luvuyo Dondolo.
Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe remains a towering figure of Pan-Africanism, yet his legacy is often misunderstood or overlooked. On December 5, 2024, the centenary of Sobukwe’s birth, Skotaville Academic Publishers, Lit.Culture, and LAPA Project Space will host the launch of One Race: The Legacy of Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe at Lit.Culture Books, Breezeblock Café, 29 Chiswick Street, Brixton, Johannesburg. The event will begin at 17:30 and offers a critical moment for intellectual reflection on Sobukwe’s enduring legacy and the contemporary relevance of his ideas.
Authored by Professor Luvuyo Mthimkhulu Dondolo, the book provides a much-needed scholarly interrogation of Sobukwe’s life and ideas, offering fresh perspectives on his ongoing relevance.
“Sobukwe was a man of vision, a revolutionary, an intellectual, and a South African political dissident with an Africanist voice,” says Dondolo.
Despite his profound influence, Sobukwe’s ideas remain “largely unknown, misrepresented, not comprehensively presented, and under-theorised.” This lack of critical engagement has, according to Dondolo, left his contributions inadequately examined in academic discourse.
Skotaville is proud to publish this seminal scholarship that breaks new ground. Through meticulous research, Dondolo draws on Sobukwe’s public speeches delivered between 1948 and 21 March 1960, family archives, state records, and oral histories to fill significant gaps in the historical record.
“His audio recordings were deliberately destroyed or are purposely hidden. They include court proceedings and interviews with local and international journalists,” Dondolo explains.
“The institutions and individuals expected to have his audio recordings report that they do not have or cannot locate them. The oral interviews with some family members and those who knew, worked with, or interacted with Sobukwe at different stages of his life go a long way to fill these lacunae.”
Sobukwe’s own words resonate with the timeless urgency of his vision: “We do not wish to use anybody, nor do we intend to be used by anybody. We want to make the African people conscious of the fact that they have to win their own liberation.”
Dondolo, a leading voice in public history, Pan-African scholarship, and heritage studies, brings considerable expertise to this work. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at UNISA and a Research Associate at the Visual Identities in Art and Design Research Centre (VIAD) at UJ. His academic credentials include time as a Fulbright Scholar at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania and as a Rockefeller Scholar at Emory University.
With One Race, Dondolo explores Sobukwe’s thought within the broader framework of African political and philosophical initiatives. The book connects Sobukwe’s ideas to movements such as the African Renaissance, NEPAD, the push for a “borderless” Africa, and the growing emphasis on African epistemic justice. Through rigorous research, Dondolo situates Sobukwe as a central figure in Pan-African thought, highlighting his vision for African unity and sovereignty.
The event promises a dynamic programme featuring a keynote address by Professor Dondolo, moderated by Dr. Refiloe Lepere. The panel discussion will include leading thinkers Tharollo Seatlholo and Professor Neo Lekgotla Laga Ramoupi, who will delve into Sobukwe’s intellectual contributions as illuminated in the book. Adding an artistic dimension, poetry readings by Makhafula Vilakazi and Mak Manaka will underscore Sobukwe’s ideals through the power of verse, while a theatrical performance by celebrated thespian Billy Langa will further unpack Sobukwe’s legacy.
Guests will also be treated to a jazz performance by the Katleho Mollo Trio who will play a set dedicated to Prof’s (as he was affectionately known) memory, enriching the evening with a musical celebration of Sobukwe’s centenary. The programme will include M’Afrika Zandiswa Kula, reflecting on Sobukwe’s enduring impact 100 years after his birth.
Professor Kwesi Kwaa Prah lauds the book as a “labour of love,” describing it as “painstakingly done and packed with revealing information and ideas.” Rather than a chronological biography, the book adopts a thematic structure, addressing Sobukwe’s Pan-Africanism, humanism, linguistic scholarship, and critique of racial hierarchies.
“It distinctly helps to rectify the voluntary and involuntary muzzling of the memory of Sobukwe,” Prah notes, underscoring the book’s significance in both academic and popular contexts.
Sobukwe’s influence transcends his time. As Dondolo observes, One Race invites readers to engage with Sobukwe’s political-philosophical thought in a “constantly changing political order.” By placing Sobukwe’s contributions in conversation with contemporary African initiatives, the book reaffirms his stature as a visionary of Pan-Africanism and a pivotal figure in the liberation struggle.
The event will conclude with a book signing, offering attendees an opportunity to explore the themes of Sobukwe’s life and legacy while reflecting on the unfinished work of African unity and self-determination.
*RSVP: kulani.nkuna@hotmail.com
