The founders: The origins of the African National Congress and the struggle for democracy

The African National Congress was founded a hundred years ago, in January 1912. But the roots of the ANC run even deeper in South African history. In fact, the ANC's founding was the culmination of more than sixty years of organisation by a new class of African modernisers. These were men and women educated in local mission schools and in universities abroad, who sought a place for themselves in the new South Africa emerging at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centuries. Much of their history is unknown but their story has been painstakingly recovered by Andre Odendaal, who has pieced together the astonishing achievements of this new class and the broad vision they proposed for a new society. Today, only a few of the founders of the ANC are still well known - John Dube and Sol Plaatje among them. But they were only the tip of the proverbial iceberg, for, across the length and breadth of the country, educated Africans were emerging in numbers and claiming their rightful place in the new South Africa. This is the epic story of that development. Many of the individuals and families who were prominent at that time are the forebears of leading African politicians and political families today. This is their story too. When the Union of South Africa was finally formed in 1910, Africans found themselves largely excluded from the new society. In protest, Africans from throughout the country came together in Bloemfontein in 1912 and formed their own organisation to represent their interests and advance their claims. It would take another eighty years before they achieved their aims. When he cast his vote in 1994, Nelson Mandela is reported as saying at the nearby memorial to John Dube, first ANC president: "Mission accomplished, Mr President."

Table of Contents:
Roots: Conquest; Missionaries and the growth of Christianity and literacy in southern Africa; Africans in a colonial order; Tiyo Soga and voices from the 1860s; The emergence of the first generation of activists, 1870s; 'Deeper than his civilisation'; Isigidimi and the Native Educational Association's fight in the mission heartland; Formation of Imbumba Yama Nyama, 1882; New organizations and a new church in Thembuland; Mobilising along the Kei; Using the ballot box; Launch of the 'National Newspaper', 1884; 'Eye of the House': The Union of Native Vigilance Associations, 1887; Vigilance Associations challenge Tung' umlomo. The creation of wider networks: Formation of the South African Native Congress, 1891; Two bulls in the camp: 'The Congress' versus 'The Union'; 'A Native Bill for Africa'; First Stirrings in Natal; Bloemfontein, 'Black Mountain' and Basutoland 'Bechuanaland': Diamonds and the Expanding Network; Gold and a new nationalism; Marriage between 'Ethiopianism' and eastern Cape politics; Congress takes first steps as a 'national' movement, 1898; The Role of Women in the Struggle; Black Economic Empowerment; Playing the White Man at his own Game; Part of a Global Dialogue (The humanitarian project and early visits to Britain); Part of a Global Dialogue (America, Pan-Africanism and fresh ideological ideas). War and Change: Britain Takes Control, 1899-1902 (The South African War); New politics in the Transvaal; New politics in the Orange River Colony; Natal Native Congress; Gandhi and the Congresses; Cape Town and post-war politics; Growth of the Eastern Cape-based South African Native Congress; Transkei organizations and Bunga Politics; Jabavu, the SANC and the politics of Higher Education; Bambatha and the Momentum towards Unity. Unification: The Queenstown Conference And 'Closer Union', December 1907; Preparations for the National Convention; The National Convention, October 1908; Petitioning the National Convention; Swaziland, Basutoland and Bechuanaland Part of South Africa?; Responses to the National Convention and its Report; Protests and Plans for a Counter-Convention; The South African Native Convention, March 1909; Imbumba and APO join the Chorus, April 1909; 'Appeal to the Parliament and Government of Great Britain and Ireland'; Preparations to send a Delegation to England; The Coloured and Native Delegation in London, July 1909; Birth of the new South Africa, May 1910; First elections: Dr Rubusana makes history; South African Native Convention and attempts to Cement Unity, 1910-1911; The formation of the South African Native National Congress, 8 January 1912; Past and Present.

About the Author :
Andre Odendaal, the CEO of Western Province Cricket, is the author of several books including Vukani Bantu! (1984, now long out of print) and is an honorary professor in History and Heritage Studies at the University of the Western Cape. He holds a PhD in History from Cambridge University.