Steve Biko: voices from his past are as vivid as ever
On the 40th anniversary of the Black Consciousness Movement leader’s death, friends recall the jester, the hard worker, and the man who changed their lives
Tuesday marks the 40th anniversary of the death of Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) leader Steve Biko. Activists and friends share memories of the man behind the legend‚ the gentle hurricane that passed through their lives. Chengiah "Rogers" Ragaven was an arts student at the then-University of Natal’s "non-European" section and became a close friend of Biko. He was elected president of the university’s first black Student Representative Council‚ on which Biko also served. "As you say his name‚ I see Steve smiling, lanky‚ in a sports jacket‚ he was a real character. For a medical student he was an exception to the rule. He mixed with the arts students, like myself. We were very close and for a year or two we spent all our time together. Man‚ in those days we used to jol all the time‚ any excuse for a party after the hard work! "Steve had such a light-hearted side‚ he and Ben Ngubane were always cracking political jokes. "My father ran the canteen at the students’ res in Wentworth ...
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