Steve Biko Foundation

The Memory and Human Rights Program promotes public dialogue on policy, popular culture, race relations and identity through a series of lectures and seminars. These lectures are also dedicated to the memory of the founders of democracy in South Africa and are crafted to illuminate specific contributions.

In March 2003 The Steve Biko Foundation launched the annual Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Lecture at the University of Fort Hare, in honor of one of the founding fathers of Pan Africanism in South Africa. The distinguished writer Eskia Mphahlele, one of our continent's preeminent intellectuals and literary figures, gave the inaugural Sobukwe lecture a man that Achebe calls his teacher and mentor. The Steve Biko Foundation also asked the University of the Witwatersrand to bestow an honorary doctorate on Robert Sobukwe. The university thus awarded the first posthumous honorary doctorate in its history to Robert Sobukwe at a moving ceremony addressed by Constitutional Court Judge Dikgang Moseneke (click to Dikgang's Address). The foundation also commissioned The Robert Sobukwe Exhibition, the first ever exhibition on Sobukwe, as well as a newspaper supplement called The Bright Morning Star, in recognition of Sobukwe's role in the struggle. Contributions to the paper were made by the likes of Nelson Mandela, Helen Suzman, Benjamin Pogrund, Neville Alexander, Phillip Kgosana and Desmond Tutu.

The Steve Biko Memorial Lecture takes place at the University of Cape Town in the month of September when the nation commemorates the death of Steve Biko. The lecture has become a national ritual of collective remembrance or what UCT Vice Chancellor describes as “a resuscitative moment” in the life of our nation. It has also positioned the foundation as one of the leading vehicles for the articulation of ideas in the public domain. Broadcast in 49 countries via television and on 360 community radio stations, it is arguably the most closely followed public lecture on the continent.

The Mathew Goniwe Leadership Conference has been developed to promote youth dialogue. The conference has resulted in the establishment of various Community Development Programs that are being run through the Foundation's Eastern Cape offices. These programs focus on HIV/AIDS, economic development, social history and education. The conference provides a platform for all beneficiary organizations to meet and interact directly with development activists, grant makers, corporate sponsors and government departments. Over the past few years the conference has become a leading youth forum attracting more than 73 youth organizations from around the Eastern Cape.

In addition to the lectures and the conference the foundation organizes a number of smaller forums in the form of seminars and workshops anchored by a range of speakers. These include:

The global Impact of 9/11: Panel discussion including Ms. Farayi Chideya, Mr. Millard Arnold, Prof. Barney Pityana.
Challenges facing South Africa’s Young Artists: Prof. Chinua Achebe, Willie Kgositsile, Don Mattera and Kgafela Makgogodi.
Writing in Indigenous Languages: Prof. Ngugi wa’Thiongo, Neville Alexander, Mbulelo Mzamane and Veronique Kudjou.
Women and Development: Panel discussion including Mrs. Graca Machel, Ms Charleyne-Hunter Gault, and Prof. Christie Achebe.
Afrocentricity: Prof. Molefe Asante.
The leadership of Oliver Tambo: Panel discussion including Minister Pallo Jordan, Ms Gertrude Shope and Mr. Joe Mathews, facilitated by Tim Modise.
Celebrating the Ultimate Sacrifice: A focus on Torture and Death in Detention under Apartheid Dr. Ramphele, Prof. Barney Pityana, Adv. George Bizos facilitated by Christine Qunta.