Freedom Day Public Lecture - 26th April 2007

Download invitation to public lecture [PDF]
Download Freedom Project Film Programme [PDF]

Iziko Museums has been engaged in a partnership with the Museum of London, the Museum in Docklands London, the Barbados Museum and Historical Society Bridgetown, and the British Council around the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire in 1807. The partnership, loosely titled the ‘Freedom Project 2007-2008’, hopes to explore the impact of the abolition on the Indian Ocean oceanic slave trade and particularly on slavery at the Cape.

As one of the key events to launch the ‘Freedom Project 2007-2008’, Iziko Museums hosts a free public lecture at the Iziko Slave Lodge Museum on 26 April (at 18h00). The lecture - entitled ‘Commemorating 1807 – or should that be 1808?’ - will be presented by Professor Nigel Worden, well-known historian and author from the University of Cape Town. [Download invitation to public lecture - PDF]

This lecture poses some critical questions (such as ‘should we perhaps rather be commemorating the bicentenary of the 1808 slave rebellion at the Cape?’) and will hopefully spark interesting debates and broaden the public discourse on slavery. A chilling reality is that, despite the abolition of the slave trade and the demise of apartheid, there are still vestiges of slavery such as human trafficking, exploitation of farm workers, child labour and sexual exploitation of women and children in our society.

To heighten public awareness of the bicentenary, Iziko will also screen a number of international and local short films with human rights and slavery themes, at the TH Barry lecture theatre, Iziko SA Museum, every day at 13h00, in the week leading up to the lecture. Attendance is free to all visitors. [Download Film Programme - PDF]

The Freedom Project programme is aimed at creating a space for everyone to remember that there was once a time in the history of the African continent and the world, when the indigenous people of Africa and parts of Asia were bought and sold in the name of economic progress and ‘civilisation’, and to reflect on the ease with which these evils are finding modern forms throughout the globe.

The fact that this event is being hosted at the Slave Lodge Museum, where thousands of slaves lived and died, is of great significance, and we encourage the public to visit this site to deepen their understanding of the legacy of slavery in South Africa.

For information about the Freedom Project, email Vivienne Carelse at publicprogs@iziko.org.za or Tel. 021 481 3814.

To RSVP the lecture, or for press accreditation, email Wandile Kasibe at wkasibe@iziko.org.za or Tel. 021 481 3804.

return to press release page>>