African Oral History Archive (AOHA) charts Africa’s vivid history,
magnificent heritage and collective memory.
Spearheaded by Emmy award winning filmmaker Mandy Jacobson,
AOHA’s multi-media content engages the past in a conversation
with the present over a mutual concern for the future.
Our documentaries reveal, enrich, startle and entertain.
The AOHA Tribute Series has kickstarted South
Africa’s second decade of democracy by revealing
the backstories of those serving on the frontline
and those scrambling behind the scenes to ensure
Africa’s transition to democracy.
AFRICAN ORAL HISTORY ARCHIVE
An initiative funded by the
Ichikowitz Family Foundation
AOHA Documentaries
coming soon in 2013
#1
SABC 2: Sunday 17th February 2013 @ 21h00
Women
of Style
Designed to celebrate the role of Women in South Africa’s transition to democracy, these unique
portraits illustrate how women rose to any occasion, showing an ability to fight in the trenches,
govern a nation, raise families, and enjoy international acclaim, all with a certain flair, substance and
style. Those interviewed include Ruth Mompati, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Helen
Suzman, Thandi Modise, Frene Ginwala and Patricia de Lille. A rare view from three
generations, narrator Theodora Tambo Kingston introduces us to her mother, Nomatemba
Tambo and grandmother Adelaide Tambo, whose generation used style as a weapon of war.
#2
Plot For
Peace
Date of release to be announced
African presidents, generals, secret service operatives and anti-apartheid icons recount a true story
of how regional peace making helped turn the key of Mandela’s prison cell. Told through the eyes of
French businessman, Jean Yves Ollivier (JYO), who zigzagged across Africa during the 1980’s,
engaging regional stakeholders in his secret plot for peace. To some, JYO was a man without a moral
compass, to others he was a trusted friend. Exclusive interviews with African, Cuban and
American leaders bear testimony.
#3
All
for One
Date of release to be announced
A Tribute to the Frontline States: All for One and One for All celebrates an
extraordinary alliance known as The Frontline States, whose generosity and bravery provided a
home in exile to the ANC. Such alliances have plotted the course for the political landscape we
live in today. The interviews include African leaders such as Joachim Chissano, Sir Ketumile
Masire, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Thabo Mbeki, Mathews Phosa, and Winnie
Madikizela-Mandela, all of whom reveal why the Frontline States put themselves in harm’s
way for South Africa’s liberation struggle: All for One and One for All.
#4
Ten Year
Tightrope
Date of release to be announced
Spotlights a small band of notable Afrikaans leaders such as Frederick van Zyl Slabbert, Roelf
Meyer and Pik Botha, who turned their backs on their history to help South Africa’s democratic
transition. An under-the-radar story of how polarized South Africans began the process of talking
to each other. Narrated by acclaimed actress Gretha Fox, the documentary features the difficult
decisions and risks these leaders took to convince the National Party to negotiate itself from power.
The Modern Trek, screened on Carte Blanche on Sunday 11th November 2012.
Our Tribute Series
Documentaries
already screened:
South African farmers in the Heart of Africa: Former South African Recce, Wynand du Toit, became a
household name in 1987 when he was released from an Angolan prison during one of South Africa’s largest prisoner
exchanges. Twenty-seven years later, Wynand and a group of farmers trekked from their homes to start a new life in the
Republic of Congo. Carte Blanche’s Derek Watts travelled to the middle of the jungle to see how these intrepid
farmers are getting on.
Mandy Jacobson: Executive Producer
C: +27 (0) 82 5771140 E: mandy@africanoralhistory.com
For more, visit www.africanoralhistory.com
An Indelible Media Production