The Chief Executive Officer of the Steve Biko Foundation Nkosinathi Biko was born on the 11th of May 1971. He is a founder member of the board of trustees and chaired the Steve Biko Foundation for the first five years.
He graduated from the University of Cape Town where he pursued a Bachelor of Social Science (Economics) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing Management. Nkosinathi studied Property Development and Finance through the University of the Witwatersrand.
He has expansive work experience across a range of media platforms. After graduating from the University of Cape Town, he joined the Sowetan, the biggest black daily newspaper as the Deputy Marketing Manager. Nkosinathi's media interest expanded to broadcast media where he produced a number of television documentaries and youth programmes for SABC, Bop TV and e-TV.
With the convergence of print and broadcast media on the Internet platform, he took up the position of E-commerce product manager with Primedia’s I-africa.com, one of the first consumer portals to be launched in South Africa.
Along with four others Nkosinathi was charged with the responsibility of launching a Metropolis Transactive, the first local Business-to-Business trading platform, where he served as the E-commerce Strategy Manager. His primary responsibilities included the formulation and packaging of web-based instructional materials linked to the new paradigm of life-long learning, as well as creating linkages between jobseekers and employment opportunities.
He holds directorships in a number of local and international companies, including Afrithon Group, Kei Fleet Solutions (Pty) Ltd, Red River Developments LLC, African Legend Housing. Red River and African Legend are involved in the delivery of innovative housing solutions in the Southern Africa.
Nkosinathi is a member of a number of non-profit institutions, sits on the board of the South African History Archives and is the Chairperson of the Business Place eQonce, an initiative aimed at assisting youth and women entrepreneurs.
He is a published writer and speaker on the international circuit. To this end he has given papers at conferences such as the, Turn of the Century Conference: Focus on South Africa – Nantes, France in 1999, Human Rights in South Africa – Connecticut, USA in 2000, Memory and Healing – Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2001, Indigenous Australia – Sydney Australia in 2002, Human Rights in the Media –Connecticut, USA in 2004 and Community Radio Forum – Johannesburg, SA in 2004.
Nkosinathi has given lectures amongst others at the UCT Alumni Forum, University of KZN, Macalister College, University of Minnesota, University of Connecticut, University of California, California State University, Stanford University, University of San Francisco, Utah State University, Georgia State University and World Trade Centre, Atlanta.
He graduated from the University of Cape Town where he pursued a Bachelor of Social Science (Economics) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing Management. Nkosinathi studied Property Development and Finance through the University of the Witwatersrand.
He has expansive work experience across a range of media platforms. After graduating from the University of Cape Town, he joined the Sowetan, the biggest black daily newspaper as the Deputy Marketing Manager. Nkosinathi's media interest expanded to broadcast media where he produced a number of television documentaries and youth programmes for SABC, Bop TV and e-TV.
With the convergence of print and broadcast media on the Internet platform, he took up the position of E-commerce product manager with Primedia’s I-africa.com, one of the first consumer portals to be launched in South Africa.
Along with four others Nkosinathi was charged with the responsibility of launching a Metropolis Transactive, the first local Business-to-Business trading platform, where he served as the E-commerce Strategy Manager. His primary responsibilities included the formulation and packaging of web-based instructional materials linked to the new paradigm of life-long learning, as well as creating linkages between jobseekers and employment opportunities.
He holds directorships in a number of local and international companies, including Afrithon Group, Kei Fleet Solutions (Pty) Ltd, Red River Developments LLC, African Legend Housing. Red River and African Legend are involved in the delivery of innovative housing solutions in the Southern Africa.
Nkosinathi is a member of a number of non-profit institutions, sits on the board of the South African History Archives and is the Chairperson of the Business Place eQonce, an initiative aimed at assisting youth and women entrepreneurs.
He is a published writer and speaker on the international circuit. To this end he has given papers at conferences such as the, Turn of the Century Conference: Focus on South Africa – Nantes, France in 1999, Human Rights in South Africa – Connecticut, USA in 2000, Memory and Healing – Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2001, Indigenous Australia – Sydney Australia in 2002, Human Rights in the Media –Connecticut, USA in 2004 and Community Radio Forum – Johannesburg, SA in 2004.
Nkosinathi has given lectures amongst others at the UCT Alumni Forum, University of KZN, Macalister College, University of Minnesota, University of Connecticut, University of California, California State University, Stanford University, University of San Francisco, Utah State University, Georgia State University and World Trade Centre, Atlanta.
Son of the late South African anti-apartheid activist Bantu Stephen Biko and Chief Executive Officer of the Steve Biko Foundation Nkosinathi Biko is an truly inspiring and fascinating speaker.
Nkosinathi Biko speaks on a variety of topics which are of relevance to the international community. Among them are:
THE LEGACY OF STEVE BIKO & BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS
The murder of anti-apartheid activist, Bantu Steve Biko, on 12 September 1977, marked a turning point in the political history of South Africa. Biko who led the Black Consciousness Movement in the late 1960’s rose to become the most vociferous voice of resistance in the country, following the banning of the African National Congress and the Pan African Congress, which resulted in a lull in political activity amongst blacks. By the time of Biko’s death in 1977, black consciousness had become “a way of life”. It was integrally woven into the political, social and cultural institutions, injecting a dose of fresh energy into the struggle for freedom.
If, internally, Biko’s life helped give birth to an era of hope, then his death helped highlight the brutality of South African security laws as well as the general plight of black South Africans to the international community. It led directly to the decision by
Western countries to support the UN Security Council vote to ban mandatory arms sales to South Africa (Resolution 418 of 4 November 1977). As Steve Biko once perceptively pronounced: “You are either alive and proud or you are dead….And your method of death can itself be a politicizing thing.”
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established in 1995 as an integral part of the nation’s transition to democracy. The Commission’s mandate was to bear witness to the crimes that were perpetrated under Apartheid and in some instances to grant amnesty. The Commission, an unprecedented entity at the time, has come to serve as a model for facilitating justice in other post-conflict societies. Yet despite its popularity, there are questions regarding the efficacy of the Commission and the impact of its legacy on South African society today.
ECONOMIC & POLITICAL LANDSCAPE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
As has historically been the case, black communities globally continue to pursue their aspirations in part by shaping and participating in the political process. As the mandate for African leadership has evolved, so have the mechanisms by which they pursue change.
Today, in the post apartheid era, issues of economic justice remain at the forefront of the South African agenda and continue to drive the mandate for leadership throughout the Diaspora. Accordingly, numerous policy initiatives have been created to foster economic growth in previously disadvantaged communities.
In order to achieve maximum impact, the efficacy of these measures in promoting the empowerment of black communities, needs to be examined. Particularly issues of an ethical nature, such as “fronting” and the responsibility of individual Africans in defining the economic and political space are addressed. Also of the utmost importance is the role of land, or property ownership, in transforming Southern Africa.
LEADERSHIP AND SOCIAL HISTORY
At the core of the Steve Biko Foundation's programs lies an approach to development that focuses on fostering the intangible but essential community building blocks: history, identity, culture and values. The Social History Program is important not for history’s sake but because it is a powerful foundation for the development of leadership and change agency at the level of the individual and the community.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
As the founder of the Steve Biko Foundation, Nkosinathi has extensive experience in the area of community development. Currently, the foundation runs community programs in
social history, education, community health, economic justice, arts and culture, and sports development
MEDIA
In an age of increasing globalization, broadcast, print and internet media generate and propagate what become the enduring images of Africa and its people globally. Increasingly, Africans have become practitioners in this space. Some outlets have sought to create uniquely African forums that facilitate discourse around issues of relevance to people of African descent; others, however, advertise themselves along the lines of “the CNN of Africa.” The question then arises, as people of African descent seek to define themselves in the 21st century, what institutions should serve as models for representative media, and what ought to inform their mandate?
THE LEGACY OF STEVE BIKO & BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS
The murder of anti-apartheid activist, Bantu Steve Biko, on 12 September 1977, marked a turning point in the political history of South Africa. Biko who led the Black Consciousness Movement in the late 1960’s rose to become the most vociferous voice of resistance in the country, following the banning of the African National Congress and the Pan African Congress, which resulted in a lull in political activity amongst blacks. By the time of Biko’s death in 1977, black consciousness had become “a way of life”. It was integrally woven into the political, social and cultural institutions, injecting a dose of fresh energy into the struggle for freedom.
If, internally, Biko’s life helped give birth to an era of hope, then his death helped highlight the brutality of South African security laws as well as the general plight of black South Africans to the international community. It led directly to the decision by
Western countries to support the UN Security Council vote to ban mandatory arms sales to South Africa (Resolution 418 of 4 November 1977). As Steve Biko once perceptively pronounced: “You are either alive and proud or you are dead….And your method of death can itself be a politicizing thing.”
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established in 1995 as an integral part of the nation’s transition to democracy. The Commission’s mandate was to bear witness to the crimes that were perpetrated under Apartheid and in some instances to grant amnesty. The Commission, an unprecedented entity at the time, has come to serve as a model for facilitating justice in other post-conflict societies. Yet despite its popularity, there are questions regarding the efficacy of the Commission and the impact of its legacy on South African society today.
ECONOMIC & POLITICAL LANDSCAPE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
As has historically been the case, black communities globally continue to pursue their aspirations in part by shaping and participating in the political process. As the mandate for African leadership has evolved, so have the mechanisms by which they pursue change.
Today, in the post apartheid era, issues of economic justice remain at the forefront of the South African agenda and continue to drive the mandate for leadership throughout the Diaspora. Accordingly, numerous policy initiatives have been created to foster economic growth in previously disadvantaged communities.
In order to achieve maximum impact, the efficacy of these measures in promoting the empowerment of black communities, needs to be examined. Particularly issues of an ethical nature, such as “fronting” and the responsibility of individual Africans in defining the economic and political space are addressed. Also of the utmost importance is the role of land, or property ownership, in transforming Southern Africa.
LEADERSHIP AND SOCIAL HISTORY
At the core of the Steve Biko Foundation's programs lies an approach to development that focuses on fostering the intangible but essential community building blocks: history, identity, culture and values. The Social History Program is important not for history’s sake but because it is a powerful foundation for the development of leadership and change agency at the level of the individual and the community.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
As the founder of the Steve Biko Foundation, Nkosinathi has extensive experience in the area of community development. Currently, the foundation runs community programs in
social history, education, community health, economic justice, arts and culture, and sports development
MEDIA
In an age of increasing globalization, broadcast, print and internet media generate and propagate what become the enduring images of Africa and its people globally. Increasingly, Africans have become practitioners in this space. Some outlets have sought to create uniquely African forums that facilitate discourse around issues of relevance to people of African descent; others, however, advertise themselves along the lines of “the CNN of Africa.” The question then arises, as people of African descent seek to define themselves in the 21st century, what institutions should serve as models for representative media, and what ought to inform their mandate?
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