Bernard Magubane

Bernard Makhosezwe Magubane (26 August 1930–12 April 2013) was a South African academic and anti-apartheid activist. He taught at universities in Zambia and the United States and contributed to South Africa's post-apartheid higher education landscape. Magubane was a trained sociologist who published seminal texts that continue to be referenced. He is the father of the academic Zine Magubane.

Early life and education

Magubane was born 26 August 1930, to Xhegwana Elliot Magubane and Ella Magubane in Colenso, South Africa. His parents were labour tenants on a white-owned farm. He spent his early childhood here and in Cato Manor, Durban, where his parents resettled.

Magubane pursued teaching at the Mariannhill Teacher Training College, KwaZulu-Natal, then completed his Standard Ten at Sastri College in Durban. Following this, he received a fellowship to attend the University of Natal, which had sections for white and non-white students. Magubane gained three qualifications at the University of Natal. He studied towards a BA, an honours degree and then a master's degree in sociology. In 1961, he furthered his studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he attained a second master's degree (1963) and his PhD (1966).

Teaching career

After his training, Magubane taught at Mariannhill. Following the introduction of the Bantu Education Act of 1953, Magubane and a number of colleagues resolved to discontinue their teaching careers. Magubane returned to academia as a postgraduate student during this period.

Political activism

In 1979, Magubane published The Political Economy of Race and Class in South Africa which was banned in South Africa. Professor Magubane was the founder of the Connecticut anti-Apartheid movement which lobbied the state of Connecticut to divest from apartheid South Africa.

Publications about Magubane

• Nyoka, B. 2016. Bernard Magubane's "The Making of a Racist State" Revisited: 20 Years On
• Reifer, T. (2020). Magubane, Bernard Makhosezwe (1930–2013). In: Ness, I., Cope, Z. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Imperialism and Anti-Imperialism. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
• "Emeritus Professor of Anthropology Bernard Magubane Dies - UConn Today". today.uconn.edu. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
• Tanyanyiwa, P. 2023. Transcending academic dependence: Bernard Magubane's contribution to the race and class debate in South Africa. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH CULTURE SOCIETY
• Sociological Association of South Africa (https://sociology.africa/images/stories/Adesina_2013_Magubane_obituary.pdf)

Publications

• Magubane, B, M. 1979. The Political Economy of Race and Class in South Africa. Africa World Press. (2nd ed). (978–0865430372)
• Magubane, B. 1987. Ties that Bind, The African-American Consciousness of Africa. Africa World Press.
• Magubane, B. 1996. The Making of a Racist State: British imperialism and the Union of South Africa, 1875–1910. Trenton: World Press.
• Magubane, B. 1999. African sociology: Towards a critical perspective. Trenton: Africa World Press.
• Magubane, B. 2001. Race and democratisation in South Africa: Some reflections. In Y. G. Muthien, M. M. Khosa, & B. Magubane (Eds.), Democracy and Governance Review: Mandela’s legacy, 94–99 (pp. 17–36). Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council.
• Magubane, B. (2007). Race & the construction of the dispensable other. Scottsville: University of KwaZulu-Natal Press.
• Magubane, B. (2010). My life & times. Scottsville: University of KwaZulu-Natal Press.
• Magubane, B., Series ed., The road to democracy in South Africa, Volumes 1–6, South African Democracy Education Trust, various years. http://www.sadet.co.za/road_democracy.html

Interviews

• "African Activist Archive". africanactivist.msu.edu. Retrieved 2024-12-30.