In celebrating the life and times of the late Stephen Bantu Biko, the father of the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM); the Durban University of Technology, together with the Umtapo Centre as well as the Steve Biko Foundation, will host the Steve Biko National Seminar 2016 themed Conversations on Black Consciousness.

Biko was a prominent leader of BCM, a grassroots anti-apartheid activist movement that emerged in South Africa in the mid-1960s. The Movement sought to infuse the black community with a new-found pride in themselves. Biko’s life ended on the 12 September 1977 at the age of 30 while in police custody.

The seminar will be held at the DUT Hotel School, Ritson Campus, on Friday, 23 September 2016. The seminar will host two key speakers: Simamkele Dlakavu who will speak on Feminism, Fallism, Socialism: The Role of Black Consciousness in the struggle for a Free Azania. Dr Nchaupe Aubrey Mokoape will speak on Black Consciousness in Perspective: Then and Now.

Simamkele Dlakavu

Simamkele Dlakavu is the co-founder of Sakha Ingomso Lethu (we are building our tomorrow). She is currently working for Oxfam South Africa as a Media and Communications Manager. She is a story-teller and social activist. She has a BA Degree in International Relations and Political Studies as well as an Honours degree in Political Studies from the University of the Witswatersrand. The young feminist and activist has represented young people in various youth summits and has participated in organisations that centre on Black rural and township youth. Her work and contribution has been recognised by a Ghanaian based NGO as one of 28 Africa’s Most Outstanding Emerging Women Leaders for 2013.

Dr Nchaupe Aubrey Mokoape

Like Biko, Dr Aubrey Mokoape in September 2008 was elected to be President of BCM. Dr Mokoape became involved in politics at the tender age of 13. At the age of 15, he served as spokesperson of the Pan Africanist Youth Congress. A medical doctor by profession, before taking up medicine, he served his prison sentence in Robben Island. He also endured a year of exile in Lesotho. Dr Mokoape met Steve Biko while attending medical school in Durban.

The details of the event are as follows:

Date: Friday, 23 September 2016

Time: 09h15

Venue: DUT Hotel School Conference Centre, Ritson Campus, Winterton Road.

RSVP: Members of the media wishing to attend are urged to contact DUT Media Officer, Noxolo Memela, on or before Wednesday, 21 September 2015 at noxolom@dut.ac.za

– Noxolo Memela

Pictured: The late Steve Bantu Biko.

– Picture courtesy of Google Images.