Nokukhanya Bhengu

Nokukhanya Bhengu (3 March 1904 – 16 December 1996) was a South African teacher, farmer, women’s leader and anti-apartheid activist. She launched a Groutville branch of the women's cooperative the Daughters of Africa (DOA), joined the African National Congress (ANC) and was a representative of the African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL). She was married to Albert Luthuli, who was president of the ANC between 1952 and 1967 near Durban, in the British Colony of Natal. Her parents were Maphitha Bhengu, son of Ndlokolo Bhengu (the chief of the Ngcolosi people), and his wife Nozincwadi Ngidi from Mzinyathi, making Bhengu a member of the royal family of the Ngcolosi. In a letter to the editor of Ilanga in 1957, she called out her royal paternal ancestors: "intombi kaMaphitha, oyisokanqangi lika Ndlokolo kaNkungu kaMepho kaNgwane kaLamula." Behngu's mother died in 1914 and when her father remarried, she went to live with her elder brother. then studied at the Inanda Seminary School, an American Board Mission school for girls. One of her teachers at the Inanda Seminary recommended her to Adams College, Amanzimtoti, for a teachers training course.

Marriage In 1925, Bhengu met Albert John Luthuli, then a fellow teacher at Adams College, who taught Zulu history, Zulu music and literature. On 19 January 1927, after discussions between their families, they married and Bhengu moved to live with his family in Groutville in the KwaZulu-Natal province. They had seven children together, three sons and four daughters, including the politician and medical doctor Albertina Luthuli. Bhengu was known for raising her children with an expectation that they all did the same tasks regardless of their gender.

Bhengu had to leave her job after her marriage as Adams College did not allow married women to teach. Bhengu supplemented this income by growing and selling vegetables, sugar cane and fruit. When World War II caused rice shortages she taught women how to produce rice. After deliberating for two years, Local women in Groutville often spoke to Bhengu for advice on farming, raising their children and relating to their mother-in-law according to Zulu custom.

Activism In the 1930s, Bhengu launched a Groutville branch of the women's cooperative the Daughters of Africa (DOA) and she was a member of a Congregational mothers’ union group. In 1946, her husband was elected to the Natives Representative Council (NRC), an advisory body to the government, through a by-election. He was elected president general of the ANC in 1952, supported by the ANC Youth League (ANCYL), and with Nelson Mandela elected as his deputy. As her husband rose in political organisations, Bhengu founded the Cato Manor Women’s Society and became a supporter of the Women's Enfranchisement Association of the Union (WEA), founded by Charlotte Maxeke and Emily Hobhouse. She exchanged letters with equal rights activists across the globe, such as the American philanthropist Mary Louise Hooper, who was her friend and correspondent for decades.

In 1953, Bhengu's husband was banned for a year by the government, prohibiting him from attending any political or public gatherings and from entering any major South African cities. Bhengu and nine other representative women of the African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) travelled to rural Nongoma to meet with him and urge him to oppose the pass laws. She is known to have "prayed that day for those who suffer on our behalf."

In 1961, Bhengu's husband was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. They both travelled to Norway and he acknowledged his wife in his acceptance speech, delivered at the Great Hall of Oslo University, stating that she richly deserved to share the honour of receiving the prize with him. They used the Nobel prize money to purchase farms in Switzerland which provided shelter for ANC members needing to escape from South Africa. Nelson Mandela wrote to her in condolence from prison. Luthuli's funeral was arranged in collaboration with the ANC, fashioned a local and global movement against apartheid, and was televised in the United States.

After her husbands death, Bhengu managed his image and historical legacy both nationally and internationally. She organised the archiving of his papers, performed the official unveiling of his tombstone and supported the establishment of Luthuli Memorial Foundation (LMF), serving as one of the trustees with Zami Conco, Mary Louise Hooper and Massabalala Yengwa. writing later in the 1970s in support of the Congress which was published in their newsletter.

Bhengu was awarded an Organisation of African Unity award in 1974,

Even when she became unable to walk, Bhengu was still active in the anti-apartheid movement, taking part in a Mass Democratic Movement march in Stanger (KwaDukuza) in 1989. She was also part of the welcome when Nelson Mandela was released from jail. He invited her onto stage during the 1990 rally in King's Park station and said to the crowd of 150,000 people "I have a present for you. I have here with me the Mother of the Nation, Nokukhanya Luthuli. I want you to receive her by shouting loudly and saying "Nokukhanya!" three times." The crowd clapped their hands, raised their voices and shouted in unison, "Nokukhanya!", "Nokukhanya!", "Nokukhanya!"

Death and legacy Bhengu died in December 1996, days after the new democratic constitution of South Africa was signed into law. The Luthuli family home is now a living museum.

Bhengu was the subject in a 1989 praise poem Praise to Our Mothers by Gcina Mhlophe, and has also been included in poems by Thoko Remigia Makhanya and Sue Williams.