Forward to Freedom
Forward to Freedom tells the story of the British Anti-Apartheid Movement and its campaigns to support the people of South Africa in their fight against apartheid. The AAM also campaigned for freedom for Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Angola, and against South Africa’s attacks on its neighbours.
On this website you can find out how hundreds of thousands of people all over Britain took part in anti-apartheid activities. You can watch demonstrations and concerts, and hear from some of those involved. We hope you will find it interesting and look forward to hearing from you. Please send your feedback and questions to
The website is part of a wider education project set up by the AAM Archives Committee that includes a pop-up exhibition and learning resources. It has been funded by the Barry Amiel & Norman Melburn Trust and the Heritage Lottery Fund, and organised in partnership with Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA).
The AAM archive is held at the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford and is open to researchers on application for a Bodleian reader’s card. The archive of Wales AAM is at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth and that of the Scottish AA Committee at Glasgow Caledonian University. Records for many local AA Groups and for the London Anti-Apartheid Committee are held at local record offices – see ‘Links’.
Follow us on Twitter: @aamarchives
Latest News & Events
The BFI on London's South Bank will present a preview on Thursday 7 May of 'Free Nelson Mandela', a three-part TV series to be shown later this year on Channel 4. Produced by Rogan Productions with material from the AAM Archives, the programmes feature the international campaign to free Mandela and footage from the AAM's 1986 Festival for Freedom on Clapham Common. The BFI showing will be followed by a Q&A session – tickets from the BFI box office. There will also be a preview at the Showroom Cinema, Sheffield on 21 May.
‘Oliver Tambo and his London Recruits’ has been nominated as the 'Best Feature Documentary' in this year's South African Film & Television Awards (SAFTAS). Plans are going ahead to screen the film nationwide in South Africa. To contribute to the crowd-funder for the South African tour click here. The film tells the story of the young men and women who went to South Africa to carry out undercover missions for the ANC. For information on showings in the UK, or if you can suggest a venue, click here.
The Anti-Apartheid Legacy Trust's Centre of Memory and Learning is set to open later this year. It is based at 28 Penton Street, Islington, London, the ANC’s former London HQ. The Centre will house exhibitions, an archive and study facilities. It will also have an outreach programme and online resources. The project already has an exciting programme of events and commissions. To watch the centre's 'Breaking the Ground' ceremony, click here. To find out more about the Centre's programme click here.
Browse an archive of photos and documents
Former activists tell their stories
A significant part of this project was to record the experiences of former activists in Britain. Jerry Dammers formed the Specials in Coventry in 1977.
An anti-apartheid activist from his school days he helped start Artists Against Apartheid in the UK to campaign and help enforce the cultural boycott.
He wrote the song, Free Nelson Mandela, which became an international hit and helped raise awareness of the plight of Mandela and political prisoners in South Africa.
You can hear him talk about writing the song.
Learn about the history of the Anti-Apartheid Movement
In 1964 Marlon Brando asked film directors, actors and producers to forbid the screening of their films before segregated audiences in South Africa on a visit to London.
In this photograph he is at a press conference with the Anti-Apartheid Movement’s Hon. Secretary Abdul Minty.
The Rolling Stones broke off negotiations for a South African tour and the Beatles announced they opposed apartheid.
Read more about this history starting with the Boycott Movement in 1959, through the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.