IF ANYONE was going to make a big deal about having known Steve Biko, it was always going to be Xolela Mangcu, as he does in his latest book, Biko: A Biography.Being the colourful commentator he is, Mangcu has always made much of having known Biko in his previous works and in newspaper columns.There’s nothing wrong with idolising one’s hero; after all, Biko had a big influence on people he didn’t even meet. For Mangcu, who was a boy of 11 when Biko died, the influence is certainly profound and evident.DetailsTITLE: Biko: A BiographyAUTHOR: Xolela MangcuPUBLISHER: TafelbergMangcu, like Biko, is one of the famous sons from Ginsberg, a township in King William’s Town. But if the reader indulges Mangcu’s tales about knowing Biko a bit, and gets past that, there is a wealth of information from which to benefit. The book does a good job of weaving a number of strands together that make the totality of the powerful persona Biko became.Mangcu pulls together various facets of political influ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.