U-Pallo Zweledinga Jordan wazalwa nge-22 kaMeyi ngo-1942 e-B Indawo, e-Kroonstad, e-Orange Free State. Utata wakhe, uGqr Archibald Campbell Jordan, wayengumntu wasenoveli, eyunivesithi kunye nezemfundo kwaye umama wakhe, uGqirha Priscilla Phyllis Jordan (wazalwa, uNtantala), wayengutitshala, umphandi kunye nomhlohli. Bobabini abazali bakhe babengamalungu asebenzayo e-Un-European Unity Movement (NEUM). Usapho lakwaJordane lwalupolitika kakhulu kwaye ulandela emanyathelweni abo. Waqala eneminyaka esixhenxe ngokuthengisa iikopi zeTorch, iphephandaba eliveliswa yi-NEUM. Wayengumfundi okhutheleyo. Ukugqiba kwakhe ukufunda, waya kwiiyunivesithi ezahlukeneyo eMzantsi Afrika, eMelika naseMelika. Walishiya ilizwe ngo-1962 esiya kufunda kwiDyunivesithi yaseWisconsin e-U.S. Uye wafumana izidanga ezininzi kubandakanya nesidanga sokuthweswa isidanga kwisikolo seLondon Economics. UJordani wabhala amanqaku amaninzi abalulekileyo. Umgangatho womsebenzi wakhe wophando ubonakaliswa kumaphepha akhe apapashiweyo. Oku kubandakanya, phakathi kwabanye, Ukuphengululwa kukaMoses Kotane: Uhlaziyo lwase-Afrika (1974); Ukuvukelwa kweSoweto: Uhlalutyo (1976) kunye neAfrican Petit Bourgeoisie: Uhlolisiso lwe-NAFCOC (1984) .