|
31/07/2009 |
Once again Iziko Museums of Cape Town invite Capetonians and visitors alike to gain FREE entrance to Iziko Museums of Cape Town on an upcoming commemorative day,
National Women’s Day on August 9th.
On August 9, 1956, 20,000 women staged a march on the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act (commonly known as the pass laws) of 1950. They left bundles of petitions containing more than 100,000 signatures at prime minister J.G. Strijdom's office door. Outside they stood silently for 30 minutes, many with their children on their backs. The women sang a protest song that was composed in honour of the occasion: Wathint'Abafazi Wathint'imbokodo! (Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock.). In the 54 years since, the phrase (or its latest incarnation: "you strike a woman, you strike a rock") has come to represent women's courage and strength in South Africa.
This year spend Women’s Day celebrating strong African women, with a screening of Iron Ladies of Liberia at 13:00 in the TH Barry Lecture Theatre at the Iziko South African Museum.
Iron Ladies of Liberia is a movie directed by Daniel Junge and co-directed by Siatta Scott-Johnson, which chronicles the story of first female Liberian president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
After fourteen years of civil war, Liberia is a nation ready for change. On January 16, 2006, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was inaugurated President, following a hotly contested election which she won with the overwhelming support of women across Liberia. She is the first elected female head of state in Africa. Since taking office she has appointed other extraordinary women to leadership positions in all areas of government, including the Police Chief and the ministers of Justice, Commerce and Finance.
Can the first female Liberian president, backed by other powerful women, bring sustainable democracy and peace to such a devastated country?
Iron Ladies of Liberia gives behind-the-scenes access to President Sirleaf’s first year in government, providing a unique insight into the workings of a newly elected African cabinet.
The movie will also be shown on August 10th, at 13:00, in the same venue.
In a bid to make the Iziko Museums of Cape Town more accessible to all, entrance is always free to children under 16 – and, other than the Castle of Good Hope, on certain commemorative days to the general public. Judging by the public’s overwhelmingly positive response to these free commemorative days, for Africa Day, Iziko Museums anticipates a favourable level of public interest in the twelve sites.
return to press release page>>
|
