Albert Luthuli

South African anti-apartheid activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate

Albert John Mvumbi Luthuli (c. 1898 – 21 July 1967) was a South African teacher, activist, and politician. He was the president of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1952 until his death in 1967. Luthuli was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1960 for his role in the non-violent struggle against apartheid.

Early life and education

Albert Luthuli was born in Bulawayo, in what is now Zimbabwe, around 1898. He was the son of John Bunyan Luthuli, a Seventh-day Adventist missionary, and Mtonya Luthuli. The family moved to Groutville, a mission station in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where Luthuli grew up.

Luthuli attended the Ohlange High School, founded by John Dube, and later studied at the Adams College in Amanzimtoti. He became a teacher and taught at several schools, including the Solusi Adventist University in Zimbabwe.

Political career

Luthuli's political career began in the 1940s when he joined the African National Congress. He quickly rose through the ranks and became the president of the ANC in 1952. Under his leadership, the ANC adopted a policy of non-violent resistance against the apartheid regime.

Defiance Campaign

In 1952, Luthuli led the Defiance Campaign, a mass protest against apartheid laws. The campaign involved acts of civil disobedience, such as entering "whites-only" areas and refusing to carry passbooks.

Nobel Peace Prize

In 1960, Luthuli was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in the struggle against apartheid. He was the first African to receive this honor. The award brought international attention to the plight of black South Africans under apartheid.

Later life and legacy

Luthuli continued to lead the ANC until his death in 1967. He remained committed to non-violence, even as the apartheid regime intensified its repression. Luthuli's legacy is celebrated in South Africa and around the world as a symbol of peaceful resistance and the fight for equality.

Related pages

• African National Congress
• Apartheid in South Africa
• Nobel Peace Prize
• Non-violent resistance

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  Solusi Adventist University

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  Groutville Church

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  Mahatma Gandhi

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  Travelling Light

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  Nobel Peace Prize Medal

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  Women's Gaol, Constitution Hill

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