Local AA groups

Anti-apartheid supporters in Leeds and Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire organised this sponsored bridge tournament to raise funds for the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) and medical supplies for Mozambique.

Flyer advertising a conference and fundraising concert at Cardiff’s Chapter Arts Centre in 1989. The conference included workshops on women’s lives under apartheid, Namibia, South African trade unions and the front-line states. It was followed by an evening benefit for the Namibian election fund by the Cardiff group Meltdown.

Sheffield MP Richard Caborn and Lord Mayor Tony Damms with Sheffield AAM supporters outside Tesco on 13 October 1989. Over 2,000 shoppers signed Sheffield AA Group’s petition asking Tesco to stop selling South African goods. Earlier in the year, 320 of Tesco 380 stores all over Britain were picketed in a special Day of Action on 22 April.

In the late 1980s Bristol AA Group held an annual Festival against Apartheid. The 1989 Festival had an ambitious two-week programme featuring music from Southern Africa, an exhibition of Zimbabwean artworks and a children’s day with workshops on gumboot dancing, circus skills and drama.

Poster advertising Bristol AA Group’s 1989 Festival against Apartheid. The Festival had an ambitious two-week programme featuring music from Southern Africa, an exhibition of Zimbabwean artworks and a children’s day with workshops on gumboot dancing, circus skills and drama.

Nelson and Winnie Mandela were awarded the freedom of the City of Aberdeen in 1984. This leaflet advertised a march and rally celebrating the award, held in November 1989. It was sponsored by Aberdeen District Council and supported by local trade union branches. 

This Festival brought together speakers from the Namibia Support Committee and Wales AAM with the Cuban ambassador, who spoke about his country’s support for Angola against South African aggression. The conference was followed by an evening concert with music from the Cardiff Red Choir and singer songwriter Maria Tolly.

The AAM’s ‘Boycott Apartheid 89’ campaign extended the consumer boycott to tourism. London students and the London Anti-Apartheid Committee called for South Africa to be excluded from the World Travel Market at Kensington’s Olympia exhibition centre, 28 November 1989. The AAM wrote to the ten top British travel agents asking them not to book holidays in South Africa.