It might be more than 35 years since one of the country’s most influential politicians, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, was laid to rest, but the founding father of the Pan Africanist Congress was resurrected in Mthatha through a travelling exhibition this week.
Dubbed the “Remember Africa” exhibition, the event hosted at the Rotary Hall in Ngangelizwe Township on Monday and yesterday is the brainchild of the Robert Sobukwe Trust in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The initiative is reportedly funded by the national Department of Arts and Culture.
It was hosted in Gauteng in 2011 and then in Kimberley in 2013.
The influential Graaff-Reinet-born Sobukwe, who became the PAC’s first president in 1959, died in 1978.
Sobukwe’s son and director and trustee in the Robert Sobukwe Trust, Dini Sobukwe, said the exhibition would be taken to seven other towns in the Eastern Cape including Butterworth, Ngcobo, King William’s Town, Queenstown, Alice, Aliwal North and Cradock.
“We felt it is fitting that he comes home to the Eastern Cape which happens to be his home,” said Dini. “We are basically encouraging people to tap and mine into the history of their own communities to find their local heroes.”
The trust is in the process of constructing the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Museum and Learning Centre which will act as a repository for all the information that will be gathered throughout the exhibition’s stay in the province.
According to one of the exhibition brochures, the provincial roads and public works department has donated land for the construction of the centre in Sobukwe’s birthplace while funding has been provided by the National Lotteries Board.
It is anticipated that construction will begin next month.
Some of those who attended the Mthatha leg of the exhibition yesterday said Sobukwe’s influence in the struggle had been underplayed.
Zwayi Mnqojana, 65, a PAC member since 1971 and a retired law lecturer at the Walter Sisulu University, said many people including Sobukwe had fought for freedom but never received the recognition they deserved. “It has always been a hidden affair but I am happy that he is being recognised now.”
His words were also echoed by King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality councillor Pasika Nontshiza who said there were hardly any audio recordings of the prominent PAC leader and no statues in his honour, despite his immense contribution.
“It shows that Sobukwe is still banned in South Africa despite 20 years of democracy,” he added.
Sobukwe remembered in Mthatha
Dubbed the “Remember Africa” exhibition, the event hosted at the Rotary Hall in Ngangelizwe Township on Monday and yesterday is the brainchild of the Robert Sobukwe Trust in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The initiative is reportedly funded by the national Department of Arts and Culture.
It was hosted in Gauteng in 2011 and then in Kimberley in 2013.
The influential Graaff-Reinet-born Sobukwe, who became the PAC’s first president in 1959, died in 1978.
Sobukwe’s son and director and trustee in the Robert Sobukwe Trust, Dini Sobukwe, said the exhibition would be taken to seven other towns in the Eastern Cape including Butterworth, Ngcobo, King William’s Town, Queenstown, Alice, Aliwal North and Cradock.
“We felt it is fitting that he comes home to the Eastern Cape which happens to be his home,” said Dini. “We are basically encouraging people to tap and mine into the history of their own communities to find their local heroes.”
The trust is in the process of constructing the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Museum and Learning Centre which will act as a repository for all the information that will be gathered throughout the exhibition’s stay in the province.
According to one of the exhibition brochures, the provincial roads and public works department has donated land for the construction of the centre in Sobukwe’s birthplace while funding has been provided by the National Lotteries Board.
It is anticipated that construction will begin next month.
Some of those who attended the Mthatha leg of the exhibition yesterday said Sobukwe’s influence in the struggle had been underplayed.
Zwayi Mnqojana, 65, a PAC member since 1971 and a retired law lecturer at the Walter Sisulu University, said many people including Sobukwe had fought for freedom but never received the recognition they deserved. “It has always been a hidden affair but I am happy that he is being recognised now.”
His words were also echoed by King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality councillor Pasika Nontshiza who said there were hardly any audio recordings of the prominent PAC leader and no statues in his honour, despite his immense contribution.
“It shows that Sobukwe is still banned in South Africa despite 20 years of democracy,” he added.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos