Interpreting the life of Chief Albert Luthuli

This is a study of the legacies and meanings of Chief Luthuli’s life in history and today. It will unpack the character of his Christianity, what Luthuli understands by ‘God’s will, holy and perfect’ and notions like ‘divine discontent’ and the ‘gospel of service. It also examines the relationship between rationality, passion and sacrifice in Luthuli’s life, comparing this with that of Mahatma Gandhi. The range of identities that comprise Luthuli’s life and how these interface will be scrutinized. Particular attention will be devoted to the principle of non-violence and Luthuli as a gendered subject.