Steve Biko Foundation

The Steve Biko foundation is launching the FrankTalk Series of publications this year.

FrankTalk is a pseudonym used by the late Black Consciousness leader Bantu Steve Biko to publish numerous articles, after his banning in the early 1970s as the banning restrictions meant that Biko could not be quoted or published. Through this pseudonym he contributed towards public dialogue, covering various aspects of development, race relations, religion, culture and black consciousness. A number of articles addressing these issues were edited and published in 1978 under the title, I write what I like. FrankTalk was first published as the official publication of the Natal Region of AZAPO, the Azanian Peoples Organisation, in March 1984. It was later published by an independent body corporate, committed to a theoretical vision of a black consciousness ideology.

Consistent with the practice of giving a voice to the voiceless, the Steve Biko Foundation now wishes to revive the publication focusing on three products. The first of these products is FrankTalk News; which will cover programs of the foundation as well as sectorial issues that are relevant to the work of the foundation. The second product to be provided by the foundation is FrankTalk Online, an internet based platform providing an alternative forum for live discussion and debate.

This will be followed by a more scholarly FrankTalk Journal.

“The FrankTalk Series will ensure that the Steve Biko Foundation, which interacts on a day to day basis with policy and development issues has a sustainable, inclusive platform for knowledge sharing and dissemination around these issues,” Says the CEO, of the Steve Biko Foundation, Nkosinathi Biko.

The Inaugural Issue of FrankTalk News is available in the table below: