Book Review: ''Dr Abdullah Abdurahman: South Africa's first elected black politician'' by Martin Plaut
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In this week's book review, we uncover more on Dr Abdullah Abdurahman, South Africa's first elected black politician.
Dr Abdurahman (1872-1940) represented some of the poorest people in Cape Town on the City Council and then the Provincial Council. First winning a seat in 1904, he was to serve the city for 36 years.
Beloved by the people of District Six for him he fought so hard, Dr Abdurahman is the forgotten giant of the fight for justice.
Drawing on previously undiscovered material, this biography by Martin Plaut lifts Dr Abdurahman from obscurity.
Author Martin Plaut joins us from UK.
Born in Cape Town in 1950, Martin went to UCT and Wits before leaving for the UK to finish his education. But he met a Brirtish nurse, married and never rerturned home., as he had planned to work for the trade union movement. He worked for the BBC World Service, mostly on Africa, retiring as Africa news editor in 2013. He has written several books on South Africa, most notably, “Promise and Despair” which looked at the delagation to London in 1909 in which Dr Abdurahman participated, to try to extend Cape non - racial Constitution to the whole of South Africa. This led to the writing the book we are discussing today: Dr Abdullah Abdurahman: South Africa's first elected black politician.
Dr Abdurahman (1872-1940) represented some of the poorest people in Cape Town on the City Council and then the Provincial Council. First winning a seat in 1904, he was to serve the city for 36 years.
Beloved by the people of District Six for him he fought so hard, Dr Abdurahman is the forgotten giant of the fight for justice.
Drawing on previously undiscovered material, this biography by Martin Plaut lifts Dr Abdurahman from obscurity.
Author Martin Plaut joins us from UK.
Born in Cape Town in 1950, Martin went to UCT and Wits before leaving for the UK to finish his education. But he met a Brirtish nurse, married and never rerturned home., as he had planned to work for the trade union movement. He worked for the BBC World Service, mostly on Africa, retiring as Africa news editor in 2013. He has written several books on South Africa, most notably, “Promise and Despair” which looked at the delagation to London in 1909 in which Dr Abdurahman participated, to try to extend Cape non - racial Constitution to the whole of South Africa. This led to the writing the book we are discussing today: Dr Abdullah Abdurahman: South Africa's first elected black politician.