Albert+Luthuli

Albert Luthuli (also spelled Lutuli) a Lay preacher, teacher, activist, politician, Nobel Peace Prize winner, tribal chief, husband, and father of seven. Luthuli lived out his sixty nine years fulfilling many different roles, as you can see, but his most notable roles, were that as president of the African National Congress (ANC), 1961 recipient of the Noble Peace prize and tribal chief.

Born on June 4, 1898 in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia, which is present day Zimbabwe, Luthuli was the third child of his parents John Bunyan Luthuli and Mtonya Gumede. Luthuli’s father died when he was an infant, and after ten years of raising him, his mother sent him to live with his uncle Martin Luthuli at the family’s traditional (village) home in Groutville Mission Station in Natal. Luthuli completed primary school, what we would call elementary school, then went on to a boarding school and from there he later went on to a teaching institute where he gained employment as an intermediate school principal. It was during his time here at Adams College, while both as a student and faculty member, that Luthuli became a preacher in 1935. Luthuli later took a higher level teaching course and became the secretary of the African Teacher's Association, and later its president.

Luhuli's passion and the religious beliefs that developed while at Adams College would not only serve as his platform but also his catalyst in his political career which was about to take form and transform his life, as well as the lives of so many others around the world. No one felt the impact of his spiritual beliefs greater than the African people in which he fought for. In 1935 Black Africans were denied many rights, and the struggle to regain those rights became known as the Anti-Apartheid movement similar to the Black Americans Civil Rights movement. It was Apartheid that made Luthuli joins the ANC. His concern for all of humanity, especially his fellow blacks led him to take action.

Luthuli, much Like Dr. King, believed in non-violence, so he organized and led nonviolent campaigns and protests, so their voices could be heard about the rights being denied to the Black Africans. Luthuli wanted basic human rights, justice, and equality for all of the people of Africa. The Government did not like this and asked Luthuli to resign as chief of his village and to disassociate himself with the ANC. Luthuli refused to do both and was forced to step down from being chief. This prompted the people to elect him as president of the ANC. This move led the government to place a ban on Luthuli which restricted his movements and prohibited him from holding public meetings, speaking, writing and traveling. This ban was in place for two years. After the ban expired Luthuli traveled to Johannesburg to attend a meeting and before he could make it back home another ban had been placed on him. When that ban expired, yet another ban was placed in attempts to diminish his ever increasing popularity among the people. It also was an attempt by the government to try and end the civil rights protest. The third ban placed on Luthuli was temporarily lifted so he could go and accept his Nobel Peace Prize. With Luthuli constantly being banned, imprisoned, and watched, his travels were sometimes limited and allowed for the group to take actions that Luthuli did not agree with which sometimes got violent and led to lives being lost.

Luthuli sought after equality for all Africans and although the stress of the battle led to his failing health, it was reported that Albert John Luthii died by a passing train. Many believed and suspected foul play. Luthuli’s fight continued on with Nelson Mandela who at one point was jailed with Luthuli. President Kennedy made a trip to South Africa, met with Luthuli and saw firsthand the horrific plight of the South African people and then a global spotlight was shown on the inequalities and injustices that were happening in South Africa. While Apartheid ended only twenty years ago, the country has made progress. A progress that came with a price, a price that was paid with many lives, sleepless nights, by several brave men, one of them being Albert John Luthuli.