Mike Tabor
Michael "Cetewayo" Aloysius Tabor (13 December 1946 – 17 October 2010) popularly known as Mike Tabor was a writer and a leading radio personality in Zambia.
Early life
He was born to Grace Hunter and Michael Tabor Sr in Harlem, USA. He attended the St. Aloysius Roman Catholic School on West 132nd Street and Harlem's Rice High School where he excelled in both academics and varsity athletics.
Black Panther Party
In 1969, Tabor became a member of the New York Chapter of the Black Panther Party and took the name Cetewayo, a 19th century Zulu king. It was during that time that he wrote an insightful pamphlet on drug addiction called “Capitalism Plus Dope Equals Genocide.” According to former members, Tabor was one of the more well known of the spokespersons for the Panther Party and was admired for his deep baritone voice and charismatic personality.[1]
He was among the 12 members who was charged and tried as part of an alleged conspiracy to bomb public buildings in New York City and kill members of the New York Police Department. Four months into the trial Tabor and another defendant fled to Algeria. Despite his ultimate acquittal on all charges, Tabor remained in exile in Africa until his death, never returning to the United States.
Algeria expelled Tabor and he and his then wife, Connie Matthews who had been the group’s International Coordinator, moved to Zambia in 1972, where Tabor wrote about politics and hosted a radio show. Despite repeated requests, Tabor refused to return to the United States.
Legacy
Tabor became a popular and respected figure in Lusaka and continued writing on politics and culture for various publications. His distinctive voice allowed him to transition into radio and for many years he hosted programs that featured jazz, African and world music on several Lusaka radio stations.[1]
Personal life
Tabor was married to Connie Matthews. Matthews returned to Jamaica after she and Tabor divorced. She passed away in 1993. He later married Zambian Priscilla Matanda.
Death
His health deteriorated over the last two years after suffering a series of strokes in summer of 2008. He died at age 63 in Lusaka, Zambia, on October 17, 2010. He was survived by his second wife, Priscilla Matanda Tabor, daughter, Che Tabor Raye, sons, Carlos Tabor, Michael Ahmad Tabor, Michael Chikwe Tabor, and cousin, Invera Tabor.
