BIKO, STEPHEN


Meaning of BIKO, STEPHEN in English

born Dec. 18, 1946, King William's Town, S.Af.

died Sept. 12, 1977, Pretoria

South African political activist.

A former medical student, in 1968 he founded the Black Consciousness movement, designed to raise black awareness of apartheid oppression. He was officially "banned" by the South African government in 1973 and was arrested several times in 1976–77. His death from head injuries suffered in police custody made him an international martyr for South African black nationalism. The initial inquest absolved the police of wrongdoing, but in 1997 five former officers confessed to Biko's murder.

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.      Краткая энциклопедия Британика.