Further reading
- Ranger, Terence. (1995). Are We Not Also Men?: The Samkange Family and African Politics in Zimbabwe, 1920–64. Oxford: James Currey. ISBN 978-0-852-55618-4
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Thompson Samkange | |
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| Born | c. 1887 Zwimba Reserve, Southern Rhodesia |
| Died | 1956 |
| Citizenship | Zimbabwean |
| Occupation(s) | Clergyman, nationalist, political leader |
| Known for | Founding the African National Congress (Rhodesia), Bantu National Congress |
| Spouse | Grace Mano |
| Children | Stanlake Samkange |
Thompson Douglas Samkange (c. 1887–1956) was a Zimbabwean nationalist, religious leader, and political organizer who played a significant role in the early African resistance to colonial rule in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). [1] He was a founding figure in several key African political movements, including the revival of the African National Congress in 1945, and is remembered for his contributions to indigenous leadership and education. [2]
Samkange was born around 1887 in the Zwimba Reserve, present-day Zvimba District, Zimbabwe. [1] He belonged to the Ngonya clan, from which the chiefs of the Zwimba tribe were traditionally chosen. [1]
His mother was a devout Methodist, and he was educated to Standard VII at Waddilove Institute, a prominent mission school. [2] He later became an ordained minister in the Methodist Church, preaching across the country in places such as Wankie, Pakami, and Kwenda. [1]
In 1945, Samkange revived the African National Congress (Rhodesia) in Southern Rhodesia and served as its president. [1] He also helped establish the Bantu National Congress, aiming to unify African voices against colonial policies. [3] His leadership extended to organizing the general strike of 1948, which marked a turning point in African labor resistance. [1]
He was elected president of the African section of the Southern Rhodesian Missionary Conference but opposed its racial segregation, advocating for unity and equality within religious institutions. [1]
Thompson Samkange married Grace Mano around 1917, and they had several children. Among them was Stanlake J. W. T. Samkange, a prominent historian, novelist, and philosopher known for articulating the concept of Ubuntu in Zimbabwean political thought and educational system. [4]
Samkange died in 1956. [1] His legacy is preserved in scholarly works such as Terence Ranger’s Are We Not Also Men?: The Samkange Family and African Politics in Zimbabwe, 1920–64, which explores the family's role in shaping Zimbabwe’s intellectual and political landscape. [5]
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