"The regeneration of Africa means that a new and unique civilization is soon to be added to the world." -- Pixley Ka Isaka Seme (1882–1951)

If one were to talk about the history of South Africa and the issues of its reconstruction, whether cultural, intellectual, or political, there is no doubt that one named that must be mentioned, and that name is Pixley Ka Isaka Seme. He has had a tremendous effect on the South African world contributing many essays and articles related to the political status of the continent, demanding the political reformation of the government as well as unity among South Africans. He was an effective political activist, to say the least, and strove for modernity amongst South African intellectuals. He stands at the forefronts of the New African Movement, being just one of many who helped lay out its foundation. His words and thoughts found their ways into some of the most influential among Africans, including R. V. Selope Thema, Z. K. Matthews, A. P. Mda, Solomon T, Plaatje, John L. Dube, and even Nelson Mandela who, in 1994, became South Africa 's first freely elected president. Of his written works, none stand out farther on the political playing field than that of document entitled: “The Regeneration of Africa”, which was written in 1904 while Pixley Ka Isaka Seme was an undergraduate at Columbia University . He also helped to create and publish one of South Africa 's first newspapers for black readers called Abantu Batho , which came available in Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho and English. On January 8 th , 1912, Pixley Ka Isaka Seme and two his colleagues Richard Msimang and George Montsio founded what was known as the South African Native National Congress, or SANNC – if the name is unfamiliar that is because in 1923 it became known as the African National Congress, or ANC. The ANC, as according to Ntongela Masilela, “was founded as a political instrument of modernity to transform the historical consciousness of the tribal Old Africans into the national New Africans.”

Pixley Ka Isaka Seme was born on October 1 st , 1881 in Natal . He attended a local mission school in South Africa , later attending Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts due to the interest in him by the Reverend S. C. Pixley. Pixley Ka Isaka Seme then went on to study as an undergraduate at Columbia University in New York where he received his Bachelor of Arts. For his debut essay entitled “The Regeneration of Africa”, Seme also obtained the university's highest oratorical honor, which is known as the George William Curtis medal. This monumental essay, which called for the exact thing that it was named (“The Regeneration of Africa”), is what Ntongela Masilela says was the “founding manifesto of the New African Movement”. It is a powerful essay that pushes for a type of New African Movement – not one that will bring it up the standards of the other continents like Europe or any other continent (for Seme said that “a common standard is impossible ” amongst the continents), but rather one [a movement] that will bring the realization of Africa's already existent greatness to the world. This is apparent in the lines near the closing of the essay, which say:

“The African already recognizes his anomalous position and desires a change. The brighter day is rising upon Africa . Already I seem to see her chains dissolved, her desert plains red with harvest, her Abyssinia and her Zululand the seats of science and of religion, reflecting the glory of the rising sun from the spires of their churches and universities. Her Congo and her Gambia whitened with commerce, her crowded cities sending forth the hum of business, and all her sons employed in advancing the victories of peace - greater and more abiding than the spoils of war.”

“Yes, the regeneration of Africa belongs to this new and powerful period! By this term, regeneration, I wish to be understood to mean the entrance into a new life, embracing the diverse phases of a higher, complex existence. The basic factor, which assures their regeneration, resides in the awakened race-consciousness. This gives them a clear perception of their elemental needs and of their undeveloped powers. It therefore must lead them to the attainment of that higher and advanced standard of life.”

It is absolutely clear from these two paragraphs what kind of message Seme was trying to broadcast to the public. Although he believes in the greatness of the African people, what it needs now is a reformation to bring it into the ever-changing world – these are definite and clear statements for the push for the New African Movement. Even after reading such powerful statements, if one was still unable to believe that Seme's goal was “A” New African Movement (as opposed to “The” New African Movement which it later created) it becomes blatantly and painfully clear with the following conclusion paragraph:

“ The regeneration of Africa means that a new and unique civilization is soon to be added to the world . The African is not a proletarian in the world of science and art. He has precious creations of his own, of ivory, of copper and of gold, fine, plaited willow-ware, and weapons of superior workmanship. Civilization resembles an organic being in its development - it is born, it perishes, and it can propagate itself. More particularly it resembles a plant, it takes root in the teeming earth, and when the seeds fall in other soils, new varieties sprout up. The most thoroughly spiritual and humanistic - indeed a regeneration moral and eternal!”

This essay definitely had a tremendous effect on the South African intellectuals of the time, but besides writing wonderfully powerful and inspiring essays, Pixley Ka Isaka Seme proved his potential as one of the founders of the New African Movement by becoming the first Zulu ever to graduate from Oxford University in England . The significance is held in the fact that during Seme's time it was quite rare to see black Africans in such high positions as doctors or lawyers or any profession that required a professional degree. Such men were held with high regard, so one can only begin to imagine how important it was for Pixley Ka Isaka Seme to succeed – and succeed he did, to say the least. Seme's words span across the intellectual playing field from figures such as R. V. Selope Thema through Z. K. Matthews to A. P. Mda, and even Nelson Mandela. Not too long after Nelson Mandela was elected as South Africa's first freely elected President, he gave a speech that called for the African Renaissance, saying:

" Where South Africa appears on the agenda again, let it be because we want to discuss what its contribution shall be to the making of the new African Renaissance. Let it be because we want to discuss what materials it will supply for the rebuilding of the African city of Carthage . Africa cries out for a new birth, Carthage awaits the restoration of its glory. . . . Tribute is due to the great thinkers of our continent who have been and are trying to move all of us to understand the intimate inter-connection between the great issues of our day of peace, stability, democracy, human rights, cooperation and development. . . . We know as a matter of fact that we have it in ourselves as Africans to change all of this. We must, in action, assert our will to do so. We must, in action, say that there is no obstacle big enough to stop us from bringing about a new African Renaissance."

If “The Regeneration of Africa” was Seme's call for Africans to enter modernity, then Mandela's statement above serves to strengthen the argument.

“The Regeneration of Africa” was just one of the many contributions of Pixley Ka Isaka Seme, which undoubtedly helped create the foundation for the New African Movement. Seme was also played a major role in re-forming (and changing?) the politics in South Africa, having had his words produced in many of the New African newspapers all across the nation, from Solomon T. Plaatje's Tsala ea Batho through Mark Radebe's Ipepa lo Hlango to John Dube's Ilanga lase Natal . Many of his articles read along the lines of a consolidation of not only government resources but the people as well. A few of the article titles are as follows:

- “NEED FOR NATIONAL ORGANIZATION – All Bantu tribes Urged to Unite as One Nation” ( Ilanga Lafe Natal , May 12, 1933)

- “CLARION CALL FOR A UNITED FRONT – Dr. P. Ka I. Seme Appeals for Unity Among Africans.” ( Unknown - Johannesburg, November 26, 1932)

- “BANTU LEADERS URGED TO POOL THEIR RESOURCES – Educated Africans All Want To Play A Leading Part, And Have Not Developed Idea Of Teamwork.” ( Unknown - Johannesburg, January 14, 1933)

- “Dr. P. Ka I. Seme Lashes Out – Leaders Of African Congress Must Reconcile Differences” ( Umteteli W a Bantu , December 16, 1933)

The fact that Seme had many of his articles appear in various important New African newspapers spanning South Africa is significant not only because of his important messages for all members of society, which includes the public and the government as well, but also because the use of newspapers as a medium for the dispersal of information played a particularly large role in South Africa at the time – if one were to control the media, one controlled much of what the non-informed public would be able to know. The fact remains true to this day for all other countries as well - however, media control in Pixley Ka Isaka Seme's time and the time prior to his was even more crucial back then because they [the newspapers] were the main sources (and modes of dispersal) of information and knowledge. It is important, also, to remember that religious missionaries also used newspapers to their advantage in the spread of religious doctrine and materials across to the public – which serves as a clear example of their importance.

On January 8, 1912, Seme and several of his colleagues called for a convention that led to the creation of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), which was later renamed the African National Congress (ANC) in 1923. What originally led to this convention was the text written by Seme entitled “Native Union”, which was written in 1911. It appeared in various newspapers and became the ANC's founding document that called for the making of an African political modernity. To borrow Ntongela Masilela's words for a moment, “the ANC was founded as a political instrument of modernity to transform the historical consciousness of the tribal Old Africans into the national New Africans.” In "The South African Native National Congress" ( Ilanga lase Natal , March 22, 1912), Seme wrote “ The 8th DAY OF JANUARY 1912 shall ever remain memorable in African history because it was on that day that the transcending influence of Letsie II brought us together at Bloemfontein . It was a conference of races and of nations---many of whose ranks had been devastated by the demon of inter-tribal strife and jealousy ". This was a monumental event where Seme served as the keynote speaker – and by his request, the new organization was built on a structure similar to that of the United States Congress. John Dube became the organization's first elected president, while Seme became the Treasurer General. The ANC later created its own newspaper, called the Abantu Batho that was in print for about 20 years. It was printed in four different languages (Sotho, Xhosa, Zulu, and English) and was circulated nation-wide. It must be noted, however, that when Pixley Ka Isaka Seme became the ANC's President-General, he barely had any effect on it and ran it through a very “destructive” period of time. Not too soon after Seme was replaced by Reverend R. Mahabane as the organization's new President-General, the newspaper Abantu Batho closed down.

There are a few intellectual sketches that have been done on Pixley Ka Isaka Seme, but there is still a lot that is unknown about him. He was undoubtedly one of the founders of the New African Movement that stands out the most, contributions and all. If it was not he who directly pushed South Africa towards modernity, it was his influence that led many to follow up and finish what his work aimed to do.