Simon Zukas: Difference between revisions

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'''Simon Zukas''' (born 1925, died 27 September 2021) was a [[Zambia]]’s veteran [[politician]] and freedom fighter who stood on the side of indigenous people against the supremacy of the colonialist through his membership in [[Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula]]'s [[African National Congress]] - ANC.<ref>Simon Zukas Dies [https://www.znbc.co.zm/news/simon-zukas-dies/], [[ZNBC]]</ref>
'''Simon Zukas''' (born 1925, died 27 September 2021) was a [[Zambia]]’s veteran [[politician]] and freedom fighter who stood on the side of indigenous people against the supremacy of the colonialist through his membership in [[Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula]]'s [[African National Congress]] - ANC.<ref> [https://www.znbc.co.zm/news/simon-zukas-dies/ Simon Zukas Dies], [[ZNBC]]</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
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==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Simon Zukas is married to [[Cynthia Zukas|Cynthia]], a visual artist and arts promoter. The two met in London while Simon was in exile in 1952 and married three years later.
Simon Zukas is married to [[Cynthia Zukas|Cynthia]], a visual artist and arts promoter. The two met in London while Simon was in exile in 1952 and married three years later.
==Death==


== Activism and political career ==
== Activism and political career ==
As  a soldier in East Africa during World War II, he had acquired a profound distance for racism and the assumptions of white superiority that seemed to him part and parcel of the colonial enterprise. Overcoming African suspicions, he helped organise opposition to Federation, one of the few whites to work with African groups. It cost him most of his white friends at the time when it was difficult to be accepted on familiar terms by Africans.<ref name="biography"/>
As  a soldier in East Africa during World War II, he had acquired a profound distance for racism and the assumptions of white superiority that seemed to him part and parcel of the colonial enterprise. Overcoming African suspicions, he helped organise opposition to Federation, one of the few whites to work with African groups. It cost him most of his white friends at the time when it was difficult to be accepted on familiar terms by Africans.<ref name="biography"/>


Zukas played a key role in Zambia's struggle for independence from Britain in the 1950s, and went on to be a government minister after independence.
Zukas played a key role in Zambia's struggle for independence from Britain in the 1950s, and went on to be a [[government minister]] after independence.


Zukas was an important activist for Zambia's independence. After a stint in the army and at university in Cape Town he campaigned against colonial rule, which led to him being imprisoned for eight months and eventually deported to England in 1952. He continued to campaign from London, until being invited to return home when Zambia finally won its independence in 1964.<ref name="cnn">[http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/19/world/africa/zambia-jewish-history/index.html CNN, The forgotten story of Zambia's Jewish settlers, January 19, 2012]</ref>. He stayed in exile for eleven years.<ref name="biography"> Eugenia W. Herbert (2004). Review of Simon Zukas 'Into Exile and Back' African Studies Review, 47, pp 235-236. doi:10.1017/S0002020600030730. </ref>
Zukas was an important activist for Zambia's independence. After a stint in the army and at university in Cape Town he campaigned against colonial rule, which led to him being imprisoned for eight months and eventually deported to England in 1952. He continued to campaign from London, until being invited to return home when Zambia finally won its independence in 1964.<ref name="cnn">[http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/19/world/africa/zambia-jewish-history/index.html CNN, The forgotten story of Zambia's Jewish settlers, January 19, 2012]</ref>. He stayed in exile for eleven years.<ref name="biography"> Eugenia W. Herbert (2004). Review of Simon Zukas 'Into Exile and Back' African Studies Review, 47, pp 235-236. doi:10.1017/S0002020600030730. </ref>