Conceived in the late 1960s and fortified in the early 1970s, the Black Consciousness generation came at the most fearful period in the history of the liberation struggle of South Africa, in the wake of the Sharpeville Massacre and the Rivonia Trial. It was a generation that consisted of talented young men and women who rose up and pierced the blanket of fear that apartheid had brought down upon a struggling black community. In the midst of this politically creative group stood a quiet figure, a force and a face that was born to take on the struggles of his time. His name was Steve Bantu Biko.

Steve Biko's generation was one of successful friendships. These were friends who believed in each other, who showed unreserved love for each other, and who were soft-hearted yet tough-minded in their dealings with each other. Friends who inspired each other and who amplified each other's strengths and potential. Friends who were not afraid to speak out when one of their number went astray. If one lost belief in oneself, one could regain strength from the conviction of one's friends.

Dr Chapman Palweni

“Before I enrolled at the medical school in Natal I was active in the Roman-Catholic Student Society in Kimberley, Northern Cape. So, in 1967 I came to the medical school and met up with this tall, well-built guy. Steve had an imposing personality and it was difficult not to take note of such a character. He made friends easily. He was there before I came, and he was the sort of guy who spoke to anyone, including new students. The inthing at the time was that first-year students should be seen and not heard. I used to admire the way he conducted himself in House Committee meetings. There were times when he would arrive late, long after the meeting had started, but he would listen and then begin to influence the direction of things.

“Dr Mamphela Ramphele and Dr Siyolo Solombela were detained. I received a call from Steve. He said: ‘Mfo ka bawo, there is a crisis here. The system has taken all the doctors and the clinic has to carry on.’ I had just gotten married.