THE FOUNDERS, the origins of the ANC and the struggle for democracy in South Africa

569pp., illus., paperback, Reprint, Johannesburg, (2012) 2023

"Our country's history is incomplete without an appreciation of early African intellectuals such as the ANC's founding president John Langalibalele, Dube, Revered Tiyo Soga and his editor son AK Soga, Sol Plaatje, Pixley ka Seme and John Tengo Jabavu ... Odendaal convincingly demonstrates that constitutional politics among Africans goes as far back as the time of these founding fathers." S'thembiso Msumi, Sunday Times Books 

"This is a unique work of high scholarship unlikely to find any rivals. Odendaal clarifies and explains in detail the much-neglected early history of the African political organizations and personalities as well as the complex culture of the emergent black press that eventually coalesced in 1912 with the formation of the African National Congress." Peter Limb, Michigan State University

André Odendaal is Writer in Residence and Honorary Professor in History and Heritage Studies at the University of the Western Cape. His books include Dear Comrade President: Oliver Tambo and the Foundations of South Africa’s Constitution and Vukani Bantu! The Beginnings of Black Protest Politics in South Africa to 1912.