Steve Biko

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Steve Biko
Born
Bantu Stephen Biko

18 December 1946
Tarkastad, South Africa
Died12 September 1977 (aged 30)
Pretoria, South Africa
Cause of deathBeating
NationalitySouth African
Political orientationAfrican socialism
Pan-Africanism
Black Consciousness
Political partySouth African Students' Organisation (SASO)


Bantu Stephen Biko (18 December 1946 – 12 September 1977) was a South African socialist, Pan-Africanist and anti-apartheid activist. He was at the forefront of the Black Consciousness Movement, a grassroots anti-apartheid movement that promoted non-violence, black nationalism, Pan-Africanism and socialism, in the 1960s and 1970s.

Famous poster of Steve Biko distributed after his death

Biko was killed in prison in 1977 by a guard who initially claimed the cause of death was a hunger strike.