February 25, 2011 – The Nelson Mandela Foundation, in collaboration with the Robert Sobukwe Trust, officially opened a photographic exhibition entitled Remember Africa, remember Sobukwe, which honours anti-apartheid activist Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe.
The exhibition is on display at the Nelson Mandela Foundation offices in Houghton.
The exhibition was launched in conjunction with a two-day dialogue session that aims to debate the themes of secrecy, taboo and disavowal in relation to South Africa’s history and heritage.
The exhibition is a must-see, not least because of Sobukwe’s personal belongings that have been incorporated, including an iron that he used while on Robben Island, a book that he had in primary school with the words “Remember Africa” inscribed in it and other items.
The exhibition depicts Sobukwe’s life from growing up in Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape, to becoming a politically conscious young man at Fort Hare University and then an activist and prisoner on Robben Island in Cape Town.
Sobukwe was appointed as a teacher at a high school in Standerton, now in Mpumalanga, however he lost this position when he spoke out in favour of the Defiance Campaign in 1952.
Sobukwe’s son Dini Sobukwe spoke about his father at the launch of the exhibition and the dialogue event.
For more information about where this exhibition will be traveling to next, contact the Nelson Mandela Foundation on +27 11 547 5600.
Young Robert Sobukwe
Audience members view the exhibition at the Foundation