Dr. Allan Boesak will be turning 70 later this month. I think it is very appropriate to recognize the role he has played over the last four decades as we celebrate Black History Month.
Allan Boesak is not only a South African theologian; he is a true son of the African soil and a world renown ecumenical and public figure. Since his return from abroad after obtaining his doctorate in theology at Kampen, Holland, in 1976 he has had a tremendous influence on theological and socio-political discourse globally.
I first listened to him as a first-year Science student in the cafeteria on the campus of the University of the Western Cape in the second semester of 1976, when UWC responded to the June 16 Soweto Uprising. The first thing that strikes you is his brilliant oratory skills — his ability to capture an audience with his high-pitched voice and very distinct pronunciation of certain Afrikaans words. In the words of Tinyiko Sam Maluleke , "Boesak is no ordinary public speaker — he is a wizard of a public speaker." Maluleke continues, "[I]n Allan Boesak South Africa has [James] Cone and [Martin Luther] King Jr combined in one package of explosive dynamism: scholarship fused with rhetorical ability; written eloquence combined with an amazing fluency of speech; academic excellence with grassroot connectedness."
He was right up there with other extraordinary leaders, such as Albert Luthuli, Trevor Huddleston, Desmond Tutu, Frank Chikane, Beyers Naude, Desmond Hurley, Peter Storey, Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, Khoza Mgojo, Buti Thlagale, Lawrence Henry, Chris Nissen, Makhenkhensi Stofile, and many others who spoke truth to power.
His first book Farewell to Innocence (1976) was a major contribution to the development of theology of liberation and the move away from the "illusioned universality of western theology." It was a refusal to innocently accept history as it happens. This was the introduction to Black Theology for many of us studying at the University of the Western Cape, inspiring us to a deeper reading of the Bible and socio-political activism.
Boesak was the "prophet from the South" who courageously preached and spoke against the demonic system of apartheid in South Africa and other oppressive political and economic systems all over the world. His many honorary doctorates and international awards are testimony to the global recognition of his role.
Boesak was instrumental in the declaration of apartheid as a theological heresy by amongst others the then World Alliance of Reformed Churches. He was also the pastor practicing public pastoral care as he marched in protests, conducting funerals of activists and innocent bystanders killed by security forces, provided bursaries to struggling poor students and comforting people through his ministry of presence. Boesak and many other spiritual leaders were a threat to the apartheid regime and that led to harassment, detention without trial and restriction orders. His faith, courage, and resilience inspired the millions of oppressed and disenfranchised people to keep struggling and pushing toward freedom.
The same faith, courage, and resilience carried him through arguably the darkest chapter of his life when he was charged with fraud, accused of embezzling foreign donations. He was found guilty, jailed in 2000, and spent just over a year of his 3-year sentence. I attended parts of his trial in the Cape Town High Court with friend and colleagues. When he was found guilty and sentenced, we felt the pain and anger at what we experienced as injustice and betrayal against someone who has made such a huge contribution to the "new South Africa."
Thankfully this setback did not kill the spirit of Allan Boesak. Although he ventured into politics for a couple of years, I believe he has now returned to his "first love" — theology and the church. I concur with Tinyiko Maluleke:
"We do not have to agree with Boesak on everything ... But I dare say that even those who disagree with Boesak, retain respect for his truthfulness, his humanness and his phenomenal theological acumen. Our country and our world are richer because of the contribution of the boy from Kakamas who dared to make his dream part of ours, and to make our dream part of his. In the process he helped us to dream of a better church and a better world."
Happy 70th birthday, Allan Aubrey Boesak! May God continue to bless you to be a blessing and inspiration to many across the globe.
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