The Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport for the Western Cape, Anroux Marais, officiated at the roll-out of the Oral History Initiative in George on 22 November 2016. DCAS partnered with the Municipality of George to commemorate the history of the city, involving local historians, storytellers, museum researches, librarians as well as tribal and community leaders at the George Museum.
Former activist Phumolany Castro Leholo shared his story of hardship pre-1994, about the forced removals that propelled him to become an activist. And historian Lynne Thomson, a volunteer at the George Museum, gave the audience a gripping overview of the historical highlights.
Minister Marais handed over Oral History DVDs and posters to the George, Blanco, Pacaltsdorp and Thembalethu libraries, with a special DVD handover for the family of storyteller Freddy Harris, who passed away just a few weeks after the recordings were completed. She stressed the value of oral history, saying that: “In a time where our world needs much healing, more social inclusion and rather celebrating our diversity as opposed to it being a dividing factor, sharing stories is significantly relevant to making a positive change in our communities.”
The Minister also encouraged the sharing of stories at local libraries. “I foresee that libraries and museums will become social gathering places where communities can document their stories. I look forward to hearing your stories and eventually reading about your collective stories in our museums.”
The Oral History Initiative of the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) was launched in 2015. DCAS remains committed to capturing and preserving the unique stories of communities across the Western Cape for current and future generations.
Let us continue to celebrate our rich diversity. BETTER TOGETHER.
Tania Colyn
Head of Communication Service
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 021 483 9877 / 076 093 4913
E-mail: Tania.Colyn@westerncape.gov.za