30 January 2026
It is with profound sorrow that Iziko Museums of South Africa mourns the passing of Dr Diana Ferrus (29 August 1953 – 30 January 2026), a beloved South African poet, storyteller and cultural icon whose words helped reshape the way our nation remembers its past and honours the dignity of the historically silenced. Dr Ferrus passed away at the age of seventy-two.
Her creative life was shaped by a profound engagement with memory, identity, justice and healing. Her work written in both English and Afrikaans, spoke to the histories that had been denied: the lost voices, the erased names and the legacies of human displacement and dispossession. Her work reflects our rich Khoisan history, culture, identity and the entanglements with the heritage of enslavement. Her poetry has traversed continents and cultures, touching audiences with its authenticity, resonance and moral force.
She is best known for her 1998 poem “I’ve Come to Take You Home”, written in tribute to Sarah Baartman, which became a powerful catalyst in the international campaign for Baartman’s repatriation and was read at the French Senate ahead of the return of her remains to South Africa in 2002. During this period, she started working closely with Iziko Museums of South Africa, in partnership with its then Chief Executive Officer, Professor Jatti Bredekamp.
Storytelling, for Dr Ferrus, was an act of restoration that reached beyond the written word. Her voice was part of exhibitions and public programmes that grapple with the legacies of enslavement, colonialism and human rights. She participated in events at the Iziko Slave Lodge Museum; a heritage site dedicated to telling the histories of enslaved peoples in the Cape and transforming spaces of human wrongs into sites of remembrance and human rights engagement.
Her work, grounded in the reclamation of identity, the acknowledgement of shared histories and the assertion of human dignity, found expression through permanent and temporary exhibitions and collaborative projects. These included the Slave Wrecks Project, featuring My Name is February, which she wrote to commemorate those enslaved aboard the São José. Just one day before her passing, Iziko Museums hosted a screening of Bones, a documentary celebrating her life and work. Her poetry has shaped broader cultural dialogues on remembrance and emancipation, and Iziko Museums will use the May 2026 launch of In Slavery’s Wake and Unfinished Conversations to pay tribute to her life and work.
Dr Ferrus was not only a distinguished literary figure but also a mentor and facilitator, leading creative writing workshops, amplifying grassroots voices and encouraging young writers to claim their own stories. Her dedication to community and creative expression was recognised through numerous accolades, including an honorary doctorate and lifetime honours for cultural activism. In her honour, Iziko Museums will introduce creative writing workshops at Iziko Museums to continue her legacy.
On behalf of Iziko Museums of South Africa, its staff, Council and the wider museum family, we extend our deepest condolences to Dr Ferrus’ family, friends, colleagues and all those whose lives were touched by her art and advocacy.
Her legacy will endure in the words she gifted the world and in the ongoing work of museums, archives and cultural institutions committed to truth, remembrance and human rights.
Dr Bongani Ndhlovu
Acting Chief Executive Officer
Iziko Museums of South Africa
