Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo was born on 19 June 1917 at a place called Bukalanga/ Bulilima later known as Semokwe Reserve.He started his primary education at Tjolotjo School.In 1941 he travelled to Durban, Natal (now kwaZulu-Natal) and enrolled at Adams College at Amanzimtoti, south of Durban. In 1944 he enrolled at the Jan Hofmeyr School of Social Science in Johannesburg. While in Johannesburg he came under the influence of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Anton Mziwakhe Lembede, two then leaders of the African National Congress and took a little part in political discussions. In 1947 Nkomo returned to Rhodesia where he was elected as president of the ANC.In June 1999 he passed away in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, from prostate cancer. He is survived by his wife, Johanna and three children.
19 June 1917
Dr Joshua Nkomo African nationalist and guerrilla leader is born.
- Updated
- 7 Dec 2023

How we know this
- 01Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau
- 02Moyo, N.E., (2012), Dr Joshua Nkomo (1917-1999): Who exactly was He, from Bulawayo24.com, 29 June [online], Available at www.bulawayo24.com [Accessed: 12 June 2014]
- 03McNeil Jr, D.G., (1999), Joshua Nkomo of Zimbabwe Is Dead at 62, from The New York Times, 2 July [online], Available at www.nytimes.com [Accessed: 12 June 2014]
Last updated · 7 Dec 2023
South African History Online. (2012, June 15). Dr Joshua Nkomo African nationalist and guerrilla leader is born.. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0086071
South African History Online (2012) 'Dr Joshua Nkomo African nationalist and guerrilla leader is born.', South African History Online, 15 June. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0086071 (Accessed: 17 October 2026).
South African History Online, Dr Joshua Nkomo African nationalist and guerrilla leader is born. [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0086071, (accessed 17 October 2026).
"Dr Joshua Nkomo African nationalist and guerrilla leader is born.." South African History Online, 15 June 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0086071. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.
South African History Online. "Dr Joshua Nkomo African nationalist and guerrilla leader is born.." South African History Online. June 15, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0086071.
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