Robben Island seminar to honour women’s role
DEPUTY Minister of Arts and Culture Makhotso Sotyu is to deliver the keynote address at a seminar on Robben Island to mark the role of women in achieving democracy and freedom in South Africa.
Robben Island Museum (RIM) will host a one-day seminar on Tuesday, August 29, entitled “Celebrating Women in Heritage”, to be attended by 160 women, many of whom are associated with former prisoners.
Other guests include women from various communities and from the University of Cape Town, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Stellenbosch University, and the University of the Western Cape.
The focus of the seminar is to provide a forum for open discussion, sharing stories around the experiences of these women during times of hardship, angst and brave activism.
The programme includes a number of personal reflections, presentations, poetry readings, music and a plenary discussion.
“Women played a significant role as single parents, and as activists, in ensuring democracy and freedom in South Africa. It is, therefore, important to celebrate women and their achievements during the month of August as a mark of respect for those who bravely took to the streets on 9 August 1956,” says Ayanda Woji, RIM senior manager, Public Heritage Education Department.
This historical march was led by Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams to reinforce their opposition to the proposed extension of the Urban Areas Act of 1956.
RIM Council member Luli Callinicos, also a renowned historian, will officially open the seminar.
“Through this seminar, RIM will celebrate women by providing a safe space for critical debate, lifelong learning and inter-generational dialogue. “Through conversations, dialogue and presentations, women will reflect on and share their experiences and relationship with Robben Island the prison and Robben Island the museum,” adds Woji.
“Robben Island Museum has become a site that reflects the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. It is internationally recognised as a symbol of reconciliation, democracy and nation-building; values that form the cornerstone of the new South African nation.
“In this spirit we look forward to hosting this seminar in celebration of Women’s Month,” Woji concluded.