John Tengo Jabavu

John Tengo Jabavu ( born January 11, 1859 Healdtown district, Eastern Cape, † September 10, 1921 in Fort Hare ) was a South African politician and publicist.

Life

Jabavu was the son of poor parents born near a Methodist mission school, which he attended later. He finished school and quickly became a teacher in Somerset West, where he also assisted the local priest. In addition to training, he worked as a journalist and gave 1881 Isigidimi Sama Xhosa, a college newspaper, out. In 1883 he passed the entrance test of the University of South Africa. Since 1884, he gave another newspaper that IMVO Zabantsundu, out, and soon after opened his own office.

Javabu was elected a member of the Methodist Church Conference. He argued for the equality of women in education and played an important role in the founding of the South African Native College, later the University of Fort Hare. In 1909 he ran for the presidency of the South African Native Convention, but was not elected and lost to Walter Benson Rubusana; In 1914 he won the election for the Provincial Council of the Cape Province against Rubusana. In 1910 he traveled to London to protest against the Constitution of the Union of South Africa, and was invited to the Universal Races Congress 1911.

Jabavus political views differed from those of the founder of the South African Native National Congress ( SANNC ) from and were not without controversy. He was a supporter of the Natives Land Act. Members of the SANNC came the accusation that he was a secessionist and a shame to the cause of blacks. Sol Plaatje called him a " puppet who is trying to serve their Lord."

Javabu was married to Elda Sakuba who died in 1900. They had four sons, his son Davidson Don Tengo Jabavu was one of the first professors at the University of Fort Hare.

Awards

• 2006 was awarded to him posthumously the Order of Luthuli in Gold.