Genre biographies
Narrator Bonolo Malevu
Language english
Let My People Go is the powerful autobiography of Albert Luthuli, teacher, chief, Christian, and president of the African National Congress (ANC). First published in 1962, the book offers both a personal memoir and a political testimony during the height of apartheid in South Africa. Luthuli traces his journey from a rural Christian upbringing in Natal to becoming a central figure in the national liberation struggle. As a devout Christian and traditional Zulu chief, Luthuli provides a unique perspective that bridges African traditions with Christian ethics. He uses his personal experiences to illuminate the broader suffering of Black South Africans under apartheid — from pass laws and land dispossession to state violence and political repression. At the heart of the book is Luthuli's moral and spiritual appeal for justice, dignity, and nonviolent resistance. He details the ANC’s early campaigns, such as the Defiance Campaign and the 1952 passive resistance movement, and describes his own banning, surveillance, and harassment by the apartheid regime. The title, echoing the biblical cry of Moses — "Let my people go" — captures Luthuli’s conviction that liberation is both a political and a spiritual necessity. Despite increasing oppression, he maintains a tone of hope, discipline, and unwavering faith in eventual freedom.