MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
23 September 2014
To all Media
Heritage exhibition and public dialogue in honour of Biko
Advocate Sonwabile Mancotywa who is the CEO of the National Heritage Council of South Africa will official
launch a Steve Biko exhibition at the Ditsong Cultural History Museum on 23 September 2014 from 11h00. The
National Heritage Council of South Africa, Steve Biko Foundation and Ditsong Museums will extend the launch
with a Dialogue on Social Cohesion. These activities that take place on the eve on the National Heritage Day are
hosted to honour of Biko and many others who lost their lives in South Africa’s liberation struggle.
The exhibition the is part of the ongoing commemoration of the 37th anniversary of the death in
Detention of Bantu Stephen Biko ‘BIKO: THE QUEST FOR A TRUE HUMANITY’. It provides detailed
insight into Biko’s philosophy and his impact on South African life. It explores the African intellectual tradition
from which Biko emerged; the formation of the South African Students Organisation; and the impact of Black
Consciousness, which defined the 1970s, becoming “an attitude of mind, a way of life” for many. The exhibition
further surveys contemporary views of Biko’s legacy and his relevance to a new generation of young people.
Making use of original photographs, documents and audio-visual pieces, the exhibition draws on interviews
with a range of Biko’s contemporaries and features leaders such as Strini Moodley, Winifred Kgware and
Barney Pityana among many others. Since its creation in 2007, the exhibition has toured a number of venues in
South Africa and Germany. This is Gauteng’s opportunity to expose this heritage to the public at Ditsong
Cultural History Museum until May 2015.
As the country celebrates the National Heritage Day by telling their stories to take South Africa forward, the
Dialogue on Social Cohesion is expected to probe societal issues that are critical in reclaiming the ideals of
liberation icons such as Steve Biko.
“It is important for us a nation to draw wisdom from the forefathers of our freedom in this country so that the
future is always in sight as they envisioned it” says Mancotywa.
One of two
NOTE
The media is invited to attend
Ends/
Issued by:
National Heritage Council
Danny Goulkan (Communications Manager)
012 348 1663/ 072 952 2260/ danny@nhc.org.za
Enquiries:
Linda Shilakwe (PR Manager)
012 753 5037/ 084 597 8881 linda@ideahub.co.za
Mr. Thando Sipuye
Steve Biko Foundation
011 403 0310/ 078 215 2529 tsipuye@sbf.org.za
Details of the Exhibition Launch & Dialogue on Social Cohesion are as follows:
Date:
Wednesday, 23rd September 2014
Time:
11:00 - 16:00
Venue: Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History
149 Visagie Street, Pretoria, 0001
Programme:
10:00 - 11:00 Arrival of Guests & Registration
11:05 - 11:10 Opening Remarks
11:10 – 11:15 Welcome Address
11:15 – 11:35 Bantu Stephen Bantu Biko Legacy
11:35 – 12:00 Keynote Address & Official Opening of the exhibition
12:00 – 13:00 Tour of the exhibition
13:00 – 15:00 Social Cohesion Dialogue
15:00 – 15:10 Vote of Thanks and Closure
15:10 – 16:00 Late Lunch to be served
HOSTING PARTNERS
National Heritage Council – www.nhc.org.za
Steve Biko Foundation - www.sbf.org.za
Ditsong Museum Of South Africa - www.ditsong.org.za
Two and last