Faith as politics : reflection in commemoration of Beyers Naude (1915-2004)

Abstract

It was in May 2014 when Hans Engdahl observed in a conversation that a year later would mark the 100th birthday of Oom Bey, as the Reverend Beyers Naudé was fondly known.1 He was a role model not only for those committed Afrikaans-speaking white South Africans who, in their fight to achieve a home for all South Africans in a democratic society, were willing to speak truth to power. In being made aware of this centenary, an earlier concerted effort came to mind: in December 2011 two symposia were held in Uppsala and Oslo respectively in a collaboration between the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, the Nordic Africa Institute, the Dag Hammarskjöld programme at Voksenåsen and the Luthuli Museum. These symposia commemorated two Nobel Peace Laureates, Dag Hammarskjöld and Albert Luthuli, half a century after they were awarded the prize.2