15 Facts About Oliver Tambo

Oliver Reginald Kaizana Tambo was a South African anti-apartheid politician and activist who served as President of the African National Congress from 1967 to 1991.

Oliver Tambo was born on 27 October 1917 in the village of Nkantolo in Bizana; eastern Pondoland in what is the Eastern Cape.

The village Tambo was born in was made up mostly of farmers.

Oliver Tambo graduated in 1938 as one of the top students.

In 1942, Oliver Tambo returned to his former high school in Johannesburg to teach science and mathematics.

In 1955, Oliver Tambo became Secretary-general of the ANC after Sisulu was banned by the South African government under the Suppression of Communism Act.

Oliver Tambo settled with his family in Muswell Hill, north London, where he lived until 1990.

Oliver Tambo's exile took a toll on him not seeing his wife and three children, but his wife Adelaide supported the ANC at home by taking in ANC members arriving from the UK.

In 1967, Oliver Tambo became Acting President of the ANC, following the death of Chief Albert Lutuli.

Oliver Tambo sought to keep the ANC together even after he was exiled from South Africa.

Oliver Tambo returned to South Africa on 13 December 1990 after over 30 years in exile.

Oliver Tambo was able to return to South Africa because of the legalization of the ANC.

Oliver Tambo's death came 14 days after Chris Hani's assassination and one year before the 1994 general election in which Nelson Mandela became President.

In 1977, Oliver Tambo signed the first solidarity agreement between the ANC and a municipality: the Italian town of Reggio Emilia was the first city in the world to sign such a pact of solidarity.

Oliver Tambo's grave was declared a National Heritage site when he died but lost this status when his wife, Adelaide Oliver Tambo, died and was buried alongside him.