All-African National Convention

political organization, South Africa

Also known as: AANC, All-African Convention

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 18, 2026

Quick Summary

The All-African National Convention was a political body formed in 1935 that represented numerous African organizations in South Africa. It was a significant part of the broader resistance against white minority rule and later, apartheid. The Convention, along with several Coloured organizations, founded the Non-European Unity Movement in 1943. This movement advocated for full democratic rights for all South Africans and rejected cooperation with the government. The African National Congress (ANC), founded in 1912, also played a crucial role in the fight against apartheid, spearheading the movement to dismantle racial segregation and discrimination.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Davidson Don Tengo Jabavu
…December 1935 he founded the All-African National Convention (AANC), which led the opposition to a series of bills whose purpose was to disfranchise Black Africans, prevent them from owning land, and keep them from selling their labor freely. The convention brought together the entire spectrum of opposition to the white…
Read More
…December 1935 he founded the All-African National Convention (AANC), which led the opposition to a series of bills whose purpose was to disfranchise Black Africans, prevent them from owning land, and keep them from selling their labor freely. The convention brought together the entire spectrum of opposition to the white…
Read More

Southern Africa
Political organizations and trade unions
…were prominent, however, in the All-African Convention, a body formed in 1935 that represented numerous African organizations. In 1943 the All-African Convention, along with several Coloured organizations, founded the Non-European Unity Movement, which rejected cooperation with the government and sought full democratic rights for all South Africans.
Read More
…were prominent, however, in the All-African Convention, a body formed in 1935 that represented numerous African organizations. In 1943 the All-African Convention, along with several Coloured organizations, founded the Non-European Unity Movement, which rejected cooperation with the government and sought full democratic rights for all South Africans.
Read More