Steve Biko

Stephen Bantu Biko (December 18, 1946 – September 12 1977) was a noted nonviolent anti-apartheid activist in South Africa in the 1960s. He was a student at the University of Fort Hare. Because he was dissatisfied with the National Union of South African Students, he helped found the South African Students' Organization in 1968 and was elected its first president. In 1972, Biko became honorary president of the Black People's Convention. He was banned during the height of apartheid in March 1973, meaning that he was not allowed to speak to more than one person at a time and so could not make speeches in public. It was also forbidden to quote anything he said, including speeches or simple conversations, or to otherwise mention him.

References in the arts

Cinema

• Malcolm Clarke made the documentary The life and death of Steve Biko in 1978.
• In 1987, Richard Attenborough directed the movie Cry Freedom, a biographical drama about Biko starring Denzel Washington and Kevin Kline. Peter Gabriel's song (see below) was included in the film's soundtrack.

Music

• Tom Paxton released the song "The Death of Stephen Biko" on his 1978 album Heroes.
• Steel Pulse released the song "Biko's Kindred Lament" on their 1979 album Tribute to the Martyrs.
• Peter Gabriel tells the tale of Biko in the song of the same name on his 3rd self titled album Peter Gabriel (III) (alternatively known as Melt for the cover art) released in 1980. Gabriel sings: "You can blow out a candle / But you can't blow out a fire / Once the flames begin to catch / The wind will blow it higher"
• Simple Minds' covered Peter Gabriel's "Biko" in their 1989 album Street Fighting Years.
• Sweet Honey in the Rock's 1981 album Good News contains tracks titled "Biko" and "Chile Your Waters Run Red Through Soweto".
• Billy Bragg later covered Sweet Honey in the Rock's song "Chile Your Waters Run Red Through Soweto" in 1992, comparing Biko's death to that of Victor Jara.
• The A Tribe Called Quest 1993 album Midnight Marauders includes the song "Steve Biko (Stir It Up)."
• Beenie Man's 1998 album Many Moods of Moses contains a track named after Biko.
• Dead Prez reference Biko in a track entitled "I'm An African" on their 2000 album Let's Get Free.

Television

• In ', there is a starship named USS Biko (NCC-50331), an Oberth class starship which is used for transport or scientific research.

Theatre

• 1979 Play entitled "The Biko Inquest" by Norman Fenton and Jon Blair.