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 Barbara
Masekela received her education in South Africa and Zambia, graduating
with a BA (Cum Laude) from the University of Ohio in 1971. After an
academic career in which she was Assistant Professor of English Literature
at Staten Island Community College, NY, and at Rutgers University, NJ, she
founded the African National Congress Office of Arts and Culture and
served as its secretary for seven years. After the release of Nelson
Mandela, she joined his office as Chief of Staff, a position she held
until 1994. During that time she was elected to the National Executive
Committee of the ANC and to its National Working Committee, as well.
President Mandela appointed Ms Masekela Ambassador to the Republic of France as well as Ambassador to UNESCO, in 1995. In 1999 when she returned to South Africa she joined the corporate world where she held a number of executive and non-executive Directorships. She was a Director of the Standard Bank of South Africa, the South African Broadcasting Corporation and the International Marketing Council, among others. At this time she also became a trustee of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and the Nelson Mandela Foundation. She retired in March 2003 as Executive Director for Public and Corporate Affairs for De Beers Consolidated Mines. President Mbeki appointed Ms Masekela Ambassador to the United States of America in June 2003. A lover of fine art and a writer in her own right, Ms Masekela enjoys gardening and reading. She has two sons, Mabusha and Selema. |
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© Copyright 2001, 2002, 2003
and 2004 by AABWA-US. |
