Livingstone Mqotsi | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 18 April 1921 Rabula, Keiskammahoek |
| Died | 25 September 2009 (aged 88) |
| Other names | Livy |
| Education | Fort Hare University |
| Movement | Anti-apartheid movement Non-European Unity Movement Decolonization of knowledge |
Livingstone Mqotsi (18 April 1921 – 25 September 2009), also known as Livy, was a South African social anthropologist and activist. Born in a low-income family, his academic journey led him to Fort Hare University, where he studied social anthropology and became one of Monica Wilson's distinguished students. He engaged in activism and resistance against apartheid and was known for mobilising communities.
Mqotsi's teaching career was cut short due to his opposition to the apartheid government's Bantu Education Act. He struggled to find employment and eventually transitioned to being a newspaper editor, facing bans and persecution. In exile, he continued his activism, writing, and educational career in London. His research focused on witchcraft, healing practices, and African society, challenging Western stereotypes and promoting African perspectives in academic discourse. He engaged in academic disagreements with scholars like Archie Mafeje and Ruth First on the Soweto uprising, emphasising the complexity of the struggle against apartheid.
Mqotsi posthumously received an honorary decoration from Fort Hare University. In 2013, Musician Israel paid tribute to him in a single from the album "Critical Thought."