Oliver+Tambo

Oliver Tambo by Haley Watson

Oliver Reginald Tambo was born on October 27, 1917 in Nkantolo, Bizana, South Africa. He was a anti-apartheid politician and a prime figure in the African National Congress. Tambo was born in a Transkei village of subsistence farmers. He attended Anglican and Methodist mission schools, and attended college at the University of Fort Hare. There he went on to study the practice of law.

Alongside Nelson Mandela, Tambo was one of the many students expelled for participating in a student strike. Tambo became one of the founding members of the ANC Youth League in 1943 and became the league's first National Secretary. Tambo began engaging in nationalist politics and legal cases, rising in the ranks of the ANC. By 1952, he joined Nelson Mandela to establish South Africa’s first black law practice.

Tambo became increasingly at the forefront of ANC political activity, further fighting against apartheid, the caste system enforced upon the native black population by the white-controlled government. After the Sharpville demonstration massacre, where dozens of citizens were killed or hurt, the ANC started the use violent and militant tactics to overthrow apartheid. The party was then banned by the government, and Mandela would be sentenced to life imprisonment. Tambo ended up being arrested for treason, but was released the following year. After the death of ANC president Albert Luthuli, Tambo took over the presidential duties and was appointed to head the ANC in exile. He found residences for the party in Zambia and London, England, and received help from some European countries, including Holland, East Germany and the Soviet Union. Even though Tambo was in exile, he managed to keep the ANC party intact.

He was able to return to South Africa in 1990, after the ban against the ANC was lifted by the new South African President F.W. de Klerk. In 1991, after suffering through a stroke, Oliver turned over presidency to Mandela. Oliver Tambo died at age 75 on April 24th, 1993 in Johannesburg.