Durban — A new exhibition at the KwaZulu-Natal Museum in Pietermaritzburg celebrates the importance of the church, the press and arts and culture in the liberation Struggle.
The exhibition is named the Three Chapter Exhibition for the triangular view of the Struggle that it presents.
It is jointly sponsored by the Apartheid Museum, Consulate General of the USA and the KZN Museum, and aims to remind people, especially young people, of what it took to reach modern day South Africa.
The museum’s assistant director of exhibitions, Wesley Flanagan, said the exhibition was an important reminder of how institutions such as the church raised awareness about racism and apartheid and fought for equality and justice.
The exhibition captures iconic moments in photos and videos varying from leaders who were the first Africans to be formally educated and become qualified professionals in South Africa, to black power salutes by African American athletes at the 1960 Olympic Games, to the Free Mandela music concert.
Flanagan pointed out how churches and missionaries played a role in ensuring that at the time when black people could not access education because of colonialism, the church made provision to enable the first liberation Struggle leaders to get an education.
African Americans were facing struggles of their own.
“The exhibition is about how ordinary Americans played their part in ensuring that apartheid eventually came to an end by engaging in activities such as cultural boycotts, calls for economic sanctions and disinvestment against apartheid South Africa,” Flannagan said.
In addition to photos, it includes interviews with legendary playwright John Kani, giving a snapshot of how in winning a Tony Award he had angered the apartheid government; Harry Belafonte addressing thousands of music lovers at Mandela’s birthday concert; and musician and Struggle activist Hugh Masekela at different times of the Struggle.
Flanagan said activists in the arts world, just like their colleagues in the field of journalism, especially the black press, were influential in continuing to call attention to apartheid injustices, eventually leading the oppressive government to succumb to international pressure and calls for political changes.
He said he hoped the exhibition would be enjoyed by everyone and impart an important lesson not to take for granted the contributions made by ordinary people in the liberation Struggle.
“There are human rights violations taking parts in different corners of the world and such an exhibition should be a reminder of where we come from and that nothing is taken for granted,” he said.
US Consulate public affairs officer Jaclyn Cole described the exhibition as an illustration of the bonds between ordinary people of South Africa and America and how the two countries shared some common features.
“The exhibition provides a moment to pause and reflect on the road travelled as well as what we have in common, such as the fact that this year we have elections,” she said, adding her hope that it would draw many people.
The exhibition runs until June next year.
Independent on Saturday