Today [27 February], we pause to remember one of the great warriors of our race, uBaw’uHlathi, uMangaliso Sobukwe. 41 years ago, on this day, he died mysteriously at the Kimberley hospital (now Robert Sobukwe hospital), in the Land of Kgosi Galeshewe.

Beginning in the early decades of the 15th century, the African continent faced an unprecedented onslaught where human traffickers and colonisers sought to conquer the people for the purpose of labour exploitation, strategic territorial advantage and the plunder of natural resources.

The leaders of the 18th century separatist movement from England were not motivated by a genuine desire for freedom and equality.

Six months from now, a commemoration of the long saga of struggle against national oppression and economic exploitation will take place. 

In this keynote speech that Professor Issa Shivji gave at the launch of African Humanities Programme books at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on 1 February 2019, he calls on the African intelligentsia to construct a counter-hegemonic project in the face of new nationalisms.