Museum holds legacy exhibition for Aids 2016
AS DURBAN hosts a major international Aids conference this week a new exhibit at the KwaMuhle Museum pays tribute to the people affected by HIV.
South African Voices: Towards a Museum of HIV Memory and Learning, the new exhibit which opened at the museum in Durban on July 11, was widely praised by guests and dignitaries.
The exhibit is a collection of artefacts and artistic, historic and photographic items.
Mayor James Nxumalo said the city was very proud of the exhibit, which is part of a line-up of events leading up to the much anticipated 21st International Aids Conference.
He said Durban had shown its strong commitment to the vision of building an HIV museum for South Africa and the exhibition was interactive, educational and informative.
“We have committed financial support for the exhibition, held at this heritage venue until December 2017.
“HIV/Aids is a global reality. We must stand together to beat the negative impact of the pandemic in our communities,” he said.
The opening night saw testimonies by Jenny BoyceHlongwa – also know as Patient 21, Musa Njoko, HIV activist and artist and Steve Letsike, who is also the deputy chairman of the SA National Aids Council.
Project manager Debbie Heustice said it had been created as a legacy project for Aids 2016.
“South African Voices documents a critical and defining chapter in our collective history. It offers all people space to celebrate the achievements and reflect on the journey we have taken from the dark days of denialism and calls to “Break the Silence” at Aids 2000, to having the largest HIV treatment programme in the world,” she said.
South African Voices, now open to the public, is a partnership project between eThekwini Municipality, Avacarehealth and info4africa.
In the context of Aids 2016, there is a full workshop programme of conference fringe events happening at KwaMuhle. Among them is the launch of David Patient’s book Make a Plan: Possibility and Empowerment in a Time of Aids at the museum on Thursday at 6.30pm
Patient 21 is well known throughout southern Africa for education and wellness programmes addressing HIV and Aids.
Exhibition times: Monday to Friday: 8am-3.50pm Saturdays: 8.30am-12.30pm Sundays: Closed Special opening times during Aids 2016:
Monday July 18 to Friday July 22: 8am-4.30pm.
The Ricksha bus route will include a guided tour of South African Voices daily.