Many streets and clinics bear Lilian Ngoyi's name, but who was she and what was the nature of her accomplishments as an anti-apartheid activist? Dr Martha Evans is working on a substantive biography of Ma'Ngoyi and joins us to share some interesting insights about Lilian's remarkable life.
Here are some of the questions we try to answer:
- Why is Lilian called "the mother of black resistance against apartheid"?
- What was apartheid South Africa like?
- What is narrative literary journalism?
- Why are there so few historical sources on Lilian's life?
- What are the details of Lilian Ngoyi's life?
- Why didn't Lilian pursue her dream of becoming a nurse?
- How did living in the Shelters raise Lilian's political awareness?
- Was Lilian a founding member of FEDSAW?
- How did the Defiance Campaign contribute to Lilian's rise in the ranks of the ANC?
- Was there a conflict of interest between the ANC and being a member of FEDSAW?
- How did Lilian's travels to China and the Soviet Union change her perspectives?
- What put Lilian on the radar of the apartheid government?
- What was the Women's March of 9 August 1956 about?
- Why does Lilian's political career seem shortlived?
- What was it like to be banned and placed under house arrest?
- Why didn't she receive more support while she was alive?
- What should Lilian Ngoyi be remembered for?
- What would have been Lilian's message to women today?
- What was Lilian and Mandela's relationship like?
- What is Martha's favourite thing about Lilian Ngoyi?
You can contact Dr Martha Evans at email martha.evans@uct.ac.za or Twitter handle @MarthaEvans16.
Please send your questions and suggestions to @WilliamHPalk or @C_duPlessis.
Thanks for listening.
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