Youth and the building of the nation

Opening address by I B Tabata, to the 1st Conference of the Society of Young Africa (SOYA) held on 20th December 1951. This is an important stage in which the Non-European Unity Movement (NEUM) has reached in their political development; it is here that SOYA is been formed. This is the birth of a nation of young SOYAns and they should integrate themselves into the liberation movement and make contributions to the struggle. Tabata also makes comparisons in the functions of the youth of the Herrenvolk and what their purpose is to the development of South Africa. The paper further questions the effect of the South African state of affairs has on the youth and therein stems the idea of the birth of a nation and the conception of building a nation.