The Individual, Auto/biography and History in South Africa

in his desire to rid Africans of the shackles of oppression”. It was his “dynamic
personality” which drove the ANC Youth League in its early phase. 49
The years of the 1950s constituted a “turbulent decade”, when African nationalism was “at
its boldest and most confident stage”. For Hendricks, this period was dominated by “the
towering figure” of Albert Luthuli, who took over Xuma’s role as leader of the “South
Africanist stream” of nationalism. 50 Luthuli was
African nationalism in South Africa’s elder statesman. His
stature and personal example infused tremendous character and
sense of purpose to the African nationalist movement. In the
face of enormous pressure from the Nationalist Government,
Lutuli held the nationalist movement together in the 1950s.
Lutuli was the first African leader to command respect from a
segment of the white population and this made him an
extraordinarily dangerous man. 51
Also important during the 1950s, for Hendricks, was Robert Sobukwe who in the latter
1950s assumed the leadership of the “Africanist stream”, which Lembede had embodied
in the 1940s. Sobukwe “personified the impatient, restless Africa of the late 1950s”.
Hendricks included Nelson Mandela, especially for his “legendary role” in the early 1960s,
when his “political dynamism and legendary courage” were most evident. Taking these
leaders together, according to Hendricks, “their political styles and actions more than any
other lend an heroic tradition to African resistance in South Africa”. Not necessarily
included, but also worthy of mention alongside the pantheon of legends is Z.K. Matthews,
who was “perhaps the most distinguished African academician in South Africa” and who
had “a considerable intellectual input in the nationalist movement”. 52
Hendricks’ account of South African resistance history was premised on the attributes of
individual leaders and the idea of a leadership tradition. For him, it was important to
49 John Peter Hendricks, ‘From Moderation to Militancy’, pp 15‐17, 285.
50 John Peter Hendricks, ‘From Moderation to Militancy’, pp 18‐19. In his dissertation, Hendricks
has spelt Albert Luthuli’s name in the older Zulu orthography as Lutuli. I have changed
Hendricks’ spelling except when quoting his work.
51 John Peter Hendricks, ‘From Moderation to Militancy’, pp 19‐20.
52 John Peter Hendricks, ‘From Moderation to Militancy’, pp 18‐20.
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