BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY
Oliver Tambo Biography
Activist (1917–1993)
NAME
Oliver Tambo
OCCUPATION
Activist
BIRTH DATE
October 27, 1917
DEATH DATE
April 24, 1993
EDUCATION
University of Fort Hare
PLACE OF BIRTH
Bizana, South Africa
PLACE OF DEATH
Johannesburg, South Africa
AKA
Oliver R. Tambo
FULL NAME
Oliver Reginald Tambo
SYNOPSIS
EARLY LIFE AND CAREER
WORKING WITH MANDELA
APPOINTED ANC ACTING PRESIDENT
RETURN TO SOUTH AFRICA
CITE THIS PAGE
Oliver Tambo was the acting president of the African National Congress, the South African anti-apartheid political party. Tambo served primarily in exile.
IN THESE GROUPS
FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO DIED ON APRIL 24
FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO DIED IN 1993
FAMOUS PEOPLE BORN IN 1917
FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO DIED IN SOUTH AFRICA
Show All Groups
1 of 2 « »
QUOTES
“It is our region, and yet a regime that is hated by everyone except itself and its stooges can stand up and order our comrades, our brothers, our people, to drive us out from a region that is ours, and they do it.”
—Oliver Tambo
Synopsis
Born on October 25, 1917, in Bizana, South Africa, Oliver Tambo opened the first black law firm in the country with Nelson Mandela. Tambo would go on to serve in exile as acting president of the African National Congress, a party that agitated to end his country's apartheid regime. He returned to South Africa in 1990, turning over party leadership to Mandela. Tambo died on April 24, 1993.
Early Life and Career
Oliver Reginald Tambo was born on October 25, 1917, in the village of Bizana, South Africa to the Pondo people. Of modest farming origins, he earned a scholarship to attend the University of Fort Hare, the only university open to black citizens in the country, where he studied education and science. He received his bachelor's degree in 1941.
Working With Mandela
In 1944, Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela, who came from the same region as Tambo and also attended Fort Hare, helped form the Youth League of the African National Congress. Tambo taught at a missionary school for a time but opted to study law, seeing legal action as a powerful tool in which to dismantle state-supported segregation. In 1952, he joined with Mandela to open the Johannesburg-based Mandela and Tambo, the first black South African law firm. An Anglican, he also had considered a career in the priesthood.
Tambo became increasingly at the forefront of ANC political activity, further agitating against apartheid, the caste system enforced upon the native black population by the white-controlled government. He and other party members were arrested in 1956 for treason, though later cleared. During this period, Tambo married Adelaide Tshukudu, a nurse and member of the ANC's Youth League; the couple would go on to have three children.
Appointed ANC Acting President
After the Sharpville demonstration massacre, where dozens of citizens were killed or hurt, the ANC took on the stance of using violent, militant tactics to overthrow apartheid. The party was banned by the government and Mandela would be sentenced to life imprisonment. Tambo was appointed to head the ANC in exile by the party's president, Chief Albert Luthuli. Tambo became acting party president in 1967, upon Luthuli's death.
Tambo established residences in Zambia and London, England, among other locales, and received party aid from some European countries, including Holland, East Germany and the Soviet Union. From abroad Tambo coordinated resistance and guerrilla movements, and, despite internal organizational struggles, was able to keep the multiracial ANC intact. During the 1980s, with the unrest in South Africa reaching chaotic heights under the P.W. Botha regime, Tambo was increasingly able to find Western support for the plight of the people, including economic boycotts.
Return to South Africa
Though steadfast in his resolve, Tambo was noted for his grace, warmth and affection. He was able to return to his native country in 1990, when the ban against the ANC was lifted by new South African President F.W. de Klerk. In struggling health after having suffered a stroke, Tambo turned over party presidency to Mandela in 1991 and became chairman. Oliver Reginald Tambo died on April 24, 1993, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Activist (1917–1993)
NAME
Oliver Tambo
OCCUPATION
Activist
BIRTH DATE
October 27, 1917
DEATH DATE
April 24, 1993
EDUCATION
University of Fort Hare
PLACE OF BIRTH
Bizana, South Africa
PLACE OF DEATH
Johannesburg, South Africa
AKA
Oliver R. Tambo
FULL NAME
Oliver Reginald Tambo
SYNOPSIS
EARLY LIFE AND CAREER
WORKING WITH MANDELA
APPOINTED ANC ACTING PRESIDENT
RETURN TO SOUTH AFRICA
CITE THIS PAGE
Oliver Tambo was the acting president of the African National Congress, the South African anti-apartheid political party. Tambo served primarily in exile.
IN THESE GROUPS
FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO DIED ON APRIL 24
FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO DIED IN 1993
FAMOUS PEOPLE BORN IN 1917
FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO DIED IN SOUTH AFRICA
Show All Groups
1 of 2 « »
QUOTES
“It is our region, and yet a regime that is hated by everyone except itself and its stooges can stand up and order our comrades, our brothers, our people, to drive us out from a region that is ours, and they do it.”
—Oliver Tambo
Synopsis
Born on October 25, 1917, in Bizana, South Africa, Oliver Tambo opened the first black law firm in the country with Nelson Mandela. Tambo would go on to serve in exile as acting president of the African National Congress, a party that agitated to end his country's apartheid regime. He returned to South Africa in 1990, turning over party leadership to Mandela. Tambo died on April 24, 1993.
Early Life and Career
Oliver Reginald Tambo was born on October 25, 1917, in the village of Bizana, South Africa to the Pondo people. Of modest farming origins, he earned a scholarship to attend the University of Fort Hare, the only university open to black citizens in the country, where he studied education and science. He received his bachelor's degree in 1941.
Working With Mandela
In 1944, Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela, who came from the same region as Tambo and also attended Fort Hare, helped form the Youth League of the African National Congress. Tambo taught at a missionary school for a time but opted to study law, seeing legal action as a powerful tool in which to dismantle state-supported segregation. In 1952, he joined with Mandela to open the Johannesburg-based Mandela and Tambo, the first black South African law firm. An Anglican, he also had considered a career in the priesthood.
Tambo became increasingly at the forefront of ANC political activity, further agitating against apartheid, the caste system enforced upon the native black population by the white-controlled government. He and other party members were arrested in 1956 for treason, though later cleared. During this period, Tambo married Adelaide Tshukudu, a nurse and member of the ANC's Youth League; the couple would go on to have three children.
Appointed ANC Acting President
After the Sharpville demonstration massacre, where dozens of citizens were killed or hurt, the ANC took on the stance of using violent, militant tactics to overthrow apartheid. The party was banned by the government and Mandela would be sentenced to life imprisonment. Tambo was appointed to head the ANC in exile by the party's president, Chief Albert Luthuli. Tambo became acting party president in 1967, upon Luthuli's death.
Tambo established residences in Zambia and London, England, among other locales, and received party aid from some European countries, including Holland, East Germany and the Soviet Union. From abroad Tambo coordinated resistance and guerrilla movements, and, despite internal organizational struggles, was able to keep the multiracial ANC intact. During the 1980s, with the unrest in South Africa reaching chaotic heights under the P.W. Botha regime, Tambo was increasingly able to find Western support for the plight of the people, including economic boycotts.
Return to South Africa
Though steadfast in his resolve, Tambo was noted for his grace, warmth and affection. He was able to return to his native country in 1990, when the ban against the ANC was lifted by new South African President F.W. de Klerk. In struggling health after having suffered a stroke, Tambo turned over party presidency to Mandela in 1991 and became chairman. Oliver Reginald Tambo died on April 24, 1993, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
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