Adelaide Tambo

Who was Adelaide Tambo?

Adelaide "Mama" Tambo SCOB was a prominent anti-apartheid activist, political exile, and regarded as a hero of the liberation struggle against apartheid in South Africa.

Born as Adelaide Frances Tshukudu, she was affectionately known as Mama Tambo in South Africa. She was involved in South African politics for five decades and was married to the late Oliver Tambo, president of the African National Congress, from 1956 until his death from a stroke in 1993. They had three children; one of whom, their son, Dali, is a television talk-show personality.

Following the end of apartheid, she served as a member of parliament from 1994 to 1999.

Adelaide Tambo received the Order of the Baobab in Gold, one of the highest honours bestowed by the post-1994 South African government. The South African Anglican Church awarded her the Order of Simon of Cyrene, the highest award given to laypeople for distinguished service.

Tambo died on 31 January 2007, aged 77 at her home in Johannesburg, South Africa from undisclosed causes.

She was buried next to her husband in her home town of Wattville on 10 February 2007. The service was held in a stadium and led by Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane. Among the thousands of mourners were presidents Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela.