Mthuli ka Shezi (1947â€"1972) was a South African playwright and
political activist. He was a student activist when he attended the
University of Zululand, and in 1972 he was elected the first vice
president of the Black People's Convention. His writing reflected the
struggle of recovering African identity in colonial and post-colonial
societies, a topic which reflects his involvement in Steve Biko's
Black Consciousness Movement as well as the influence of Frantz
Fanon.In December 1972, Shezi died when he was pushed in front of a
moving train at Germiston station after coming to the defense of
African women being drenched with water by a white station cleaner. He
posthumously received the Order of Luthuli for his "political
leadership, outstanding contribution to the performing arts, and
activism against apartheid"He became a symbol for the struggle of
black South Africans against the apartheid regime."I am black/ Black
like my mother/ Black like the sufferers/ Black like the continent" -
from the play Shanti published in 1972
political activist. He was a student activist when he attended the
University of Zululand, and in 1972 he was elected the first vice
president of the Black People's Convention. His writing reflected the
struggle of recovering African identity in colonial and post-colonial
societies, a topic which reflects his involvement in Steve Biko's
Black Consciousness Movement as well as the influence of Frantz
Fanon.In December 1972, Shezi died when he was pushed in front of a
moving train at Germiston station after coming to the defense of
African women being drenched with water by a white station cleaner. He
posthumously received the Order of Luthuli for his "political
leadership, outstanding contribution to the performing arts, and
activism against apartheid"He became a symbol for the struggle of
black South Africans against the apartheid regime."I am black/ Black
like my mother/ Black like the sufferers/ Black like the continent" -
from the play Shanti published in 1972
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