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eventREF E-0082316Revised

Event record

The Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO) is founded after the government banned a host of BCM organisations in October 1977.

The Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO) is founded after the government banned a host of BCM organisations in October 1977.

Date
28 Apr 1978
Updated
30 Sep 2019
The Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO) is founded after the government banned a host of BCM organisations in October 1977.

In the aftermath of the 16 June 1976 Uprising, in Soweto, Johannesburg, the apartheid government banned all the organisations under the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) banner. The BCM organisations were the forces behind the uprising, these included among others, the Black People's Convention (BPC), the South African Students' Organisation (SASO) and the Black Community Programmes (BCP). Out of the banning of these liberation movements the Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO) was founded to carry on the work of liberation as an overt organisation. The organisation adopted the Black Consciousness philosophy advocated by Steven Biko and continued to propagate it in it programmes. During the apartheid years AZAPO became increasingly divided with some of its members adhering to the African National Congress’ (ANC) Freedom Charter which promotes non-racialism. AZAPO boycotted the 1994 democratic elections; however, it has since participated in all subsequent elections.

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How we know this

  1. 01SAHO, Azanian People's Organization (AZAPO), from South Arican History Online, [online], Available at www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed on 27 March 2014]
  2. 02O’ Malley, P.,  Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO), from Nelson Mandela Centre for Memory, [online], Available at www.nelsonmandela.org [Accessed on 27 March 2014]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, April 23). The Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO) is founded after the government banned a host of BCM organisations in October 1977.. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0082316

South African History Online (2012) 'The Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO) is founded after the government banned a host of BCM organisations in October 1977.', South African History Online, 23 April. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0082316 (Accessed: 31 August 2026).

South African History Online, The Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO) is founded after the government banned a host of BCM organisations in October 1977. [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0082316, (accessed 31 August 2026).

"The Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO) is founded after the government banned a host of BCM organisations in October 1977.." South African History Online, 23 Apr. 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0082316. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "The Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO) is founded after the government banned a host of BCM organisations in October 1977.." South African History Online. April 23, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0082316.

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