1856 – South Africa’s First Black Journalist, Tiyo Soga, Ordained

On May 22, 1856, Tiyo Soga, a Xhosa intellectual and freedom advocate, was ordained in the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland, becoming the first Black South African minister. More than a religious figure, Soga broke racial barriers in both journalism and theology. As a skilled writer, he translated religious texts into Xhosa and wrote essays that challenged colonial racism. Educated in Scotland, Soga’s transatlantic experiences allowed him to bridge African and European intellectual traditions while advocating for Black dignity and cultural preservation under colonial rule. His ordination was not just religious—it was political. It represented a reclaiming of African voice and narrative in a time when Indigenous thought was suppressed. Soga’s legacy in journalism and anti-colonial theology makes May 22 a landmark date in global Black intellectual history. His life remains a testament to the enduring power of education, cross-cultural dialogue, and resistance through the written word.