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Historical records matching Albert Luthuli
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About Albert Luthuli
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Lutuli
Albert John Luthuli was born around 1898 in Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) where his father was a catechist teacher. His ancestral home was the Umvoti Mission Reserve. In 1908 the Luthuli family returned to Natal and settled in Vryheid. In order to obtain an education Luthuli went to live with his uncle at Groutville, where his early schooling was at the American Board Mission school. In 1917 he qualified as a teacher at Edenvale and was principal of Blaauwbosch intermediary school for two years. In 1920 he received a bursary to study at Adams College and in 1922 joined the College's staff as a lecturer at the Teachers Training College. In 1928 he was elected secretary of the African Teacher Association and founder of the Zulu Language and Culture Society.
In 1933 some elders of the tribe approached Luthuli and asked him to consider succeeding his uncle as chief. Although the position of chief meant a vast reduction in his salary Luthuli decided that service to his community came first and he left teaching in 1935 to act as the elected chief at Groutville from 1 January 1936. In an attempt to improve the economy of Groutville he helped to revive the Groutville Cane Growers Association. Between 1945 and 1948 he was elected to the Natal executive of the Native Representative Council. In 1952 he was deposed as Chief by Government decree.
The strongest single influence on Luthuli's life and thoughts came from his Christian commitment. He was a lay preacher in the local congregation. For many years he served as chairman of the Congregational churches of the American Board Mission and became chairman of the Natal Missionary Conference. He also served on the executive committee of the Christian Council of South Africa, the forerunner of the South African Council of Churches. Luthuli stressed "sacrificial service" and dedicated his life to the cause and service of his fellow men.
In 1945 he joined the African National Congress and was elected to the executive committee of the Natal branch and in May 1951 was elected as President of the branch. On 16 December 1952 he was elected President- General of the ANC: a position he held until the organisation was banned in March 1960. Following a policy of non-violence Luthuli led the defiance campaign against unjust laws in 1952. In the same year a banning order restricted him to the Lower Tugela District for two years. The ban was extended in 1954 for two years. In 1956 he was arrested on a charge of treason but after a drawn out trial, charges were withdrawn. He was arrested in 1960 after the protest following the Sharpeville massacre. He was banned in 1962 and again in 1964. However, he courageously continued his political work.
- Reference: Biographical Summaries of Notable People - SmartCopy: Jan 24 2018, 6:21:49 UTC
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Albert Luthuli's Timeline
| 1898 |
1898
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Bulawayo
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| 1967 |
July 21, 1967
Age 69
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KwaDukuza
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