An Outline of the New African Movement in South Africa

The New African Movement stretched over a century from about 1862 (Tiyo Soga) to 1960 (Ezekiel Mphahlele). It consisted of writers, political and religious leaders, artists, teachers and scientists who called themselves New Africans - specifically New African intellectuals - to distinguish themselves from the Old Africans. They felt they stood out as a new movement because they were engaged with creating knowledge of modernity rather than taking consolation and satisfaction in the old ways of traditional societies.