The Unboxing Mayibuye Project: a digital journey through South Africa's apartheid history
Image: Instagram
Preserving South Africa's liberation history is a gift to future generations. This according to David Martinon, Ambassador of France to South Africa, at the closing event of the Unboxing Mayibuye project on 8 May 2025.
The event, held at the Nelson Mandela Gateway in Cape Town's V&A Waterfront, marked the successful conclusion of the Unboxing Mayibuye Project—a collaboration between the Robben Island Museum (RIM), the French National Audiovisual Institute (INA), and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). This initiative aimed to digitally preserve South Africa's liberation history and make it accessible to future generations.
Robben Island, symbolising the struggle against apartheid, houses the Mayibuye Archives at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). These archives hold crucial collections documenting resistance to apartheid, both within South Africa and globally, spanning from 1948 to 1994.
The three year project was hosted at Robben Island Museum
Image: Instagram
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
The successful completion of the project was a significant milestone for UWC. Professor Shaun Pather, advisor to the Rector and Vice-Chancellor at UWC, explained: 'This project has been about more than preserving artefacts. It has been about memory and justice, and making sure that the stories of struggle remain accessible and meaningful into the future.'
In his keynote address, Professor Pather highlighted the project's impact on future generations: 'When youth engage with heritage, they become active participants in democracy, co-creating knowledge for the future. Our struggle for freedom wasn't just a national effort—it was global, and the Unboxing Mayibuye Project allows us to share that story with the world.'
Pather went on to emphasise the importance of making South Africa's liberation history accessible in new, innovative ways: 'Our archives are not just national treasures; they are part of the collective memory of the world. Through this project, we've made sure that the legacy of our struggle is not locked away but is available for all, everywhere.'
Every part of the exhibition held a special purpose
Image: Instagram
The project also showcased how academic institutions like UWC can link heritage, technology, and social justice. By leveraging digital tools, such as augmented reality, it ensured South Africa's liberation history reached a global audience, making it accessible to people worldwide.
Over the past three years, RIM and INA worked to enhance the archives' digital preservation efforts, training six young assistants in preservation, documentation, and digitisation. A key outcome of the project was the creation of a website showcasing collections such as the International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) and the Apple Box Archives.
The IDAF supported anti-apartheid activists, while the Apple Box Archives feature items donated by former Robben Island prisoners after their release in 1991. Many prisoners carried their belongings in apple boxes, which became a powerful symbol of their struggle.
Professor Saths Cooper, Chairperson of the Robben Island Museum, highlighted how the project had made these historical treasures more accessible. 'This is a significant development, allowing us all, especially our children, to access the contributions made by those who fought for our freedom.'
Echoing South Africa's G20 presidency theme of 'Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,' Professor Pather emphasised the project's role in engaging young people with history: 'When youth engage with heritage, they become active participants in democracy, co-creating knowledge for the future.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
17 hours ago
- The Citizen
Helping Hands thanks Dannhauser school for recognising vital community work
Helping Hands — a community-based organisation dedicated to assisting the destitute, needy and vulnerable — has expressed heartfelt thanks to Dannhauser Primary School for recognising its work. Chairperson Farzanah Dookie told the Courier that the organisation strives to make a difference wherever possible. 'We do this through various initiatives. When people in our community face challenges, especially with basic needs like food and water, we step in to help wherever we can,' she explained. Helping Hands partners with local businesses to source food parcels, which are then repacked into smaller portions to reach more households. The group also receives a nutritious soup mix from 'Reach Out for Hunger', which is served to children on Sundays when no school feeding schemes are available. Dookie added that the organisation also appeals to churches and other groups for gently-used clothing, school shoes for children, and blankets for the elderly. 'We really appreciate it when people notice our work,' she said. 'It's not an easy task — we aren't funded by any organisation, so we do struggle at times. But with the support of caring people, we manage to help so many who are unemployed, especially given the high joblessness in our community.' She extended special thanks to the educators and staff of Dannhauser Primary School for their Mandela Day sponsorship. 'Your support means a lot to us, and we look forward to working with you again in future,' she added. HAVE YOUR SAY: Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram or email us at [email protected]. Add us on WhatsApp 071 277 1394.
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Daily Maverick
Hooks, lines and sinkers … the painful consequences of abandoned fishing gear
'When birds become entangled, the fishing line often becomes tight, stopping the flow of blood, resulting in swelling and eventually foot or toe loss. This also means that the entangled birds can no longer roost on tree branches at night as they no longer have the capability to clasp onto the branch when the wind blows.' One too many encounters with injured and crippled birds has prompted South African photographer and birding expert Hugh Chittenden to issue an appeal to shore and inland anglers to go the extra mile to retrieve and safely dispose of their tangled or lost fishing lines. Chittenden, who has been photographing birds for more than 40 years and also written four Roberts Bird Guides, has seen at least five woolly-necked storks and several other species with severe injuries or lost limbs recently due to nylon fishing line tangles. While he recognises that fishers cannot always retrieve hooks and lines snagged in rocks or vegetation, he still sees lengths of fishing line lying on the beach during his regular walks on the KwaZulu-Natal coast or when visiting inland dams and lakes. 'Not all fishermen behave irresponsibly, of course. I have friends who are keen fishermen and I know they act very responsibly and would never discard a single matchstick at the water's edge, let alone bunches of fishing line. Sadly, however, and judging by the amount of fishing line that one sees lying around on the margins of dams and along beaches, the majority of fishermen seem to have no concern for the way they litter,' says the 77-year-old Mtunzini resident. Sadly, he notes, it is virtually impossible to catch the injured birds to treat them or cut away lines, as most fly away when approached. One recent exception, however, was a woolly-necked stork that he managed to corner, capture and then treat with an antiseptic ointment. 'When birds become entangled, the fishing line often becomes tight, stopping the flow of blood, resulting in swelling and eventually foot or toe loss. This also means that the entangled birds can no longer roost on tree branches at night as they no longer have the capability to clasp on to the branch when the wind blows.' KwaZulu-Natal Subsistence Fishers' Forum chair John Peter Narayansamy says his group holds regular workshops to encourage members to act responsibly and be aware of their potential impact on the environment. 'The only thing our anglers should leave on the beach is their footprints. Whatever they take to the beach should be taken home if there are no litter bins on the beach,' he urged. 'Sadly, there are some bad elements within the angling community who ignore the rules and not all beaches have litter bins. So, we always ask our members to remove any fishing line, plastic and other litter. It's not just the fishing line that's a concern, because plastic bags can also be mistaken [for] jellyfish by turtles and other creatures feeding underwater. Other anglers approached for comment noted that for safety and access reasons, it was impossible to retrieve every piece of fishing line tangled up in deep water, rocky areas or along muddy shorelines. Veteran marine biologist Dr Bruce Mann notes that there have been several initiatives to curb fishing line being left on the beaches. 'One of the more successful ideas is the disposal pipes put up at piers and other popular fishing spots. Encouraging anglers to cut old fishing line up into short pieces before discarding also helps prevent bird entanglement on rubbish dumps. Burning fishing line is also an effective way of getting rid of it.' DM
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Lory Park Zoo educates visitors on animal conservation
Some of the animals are rescues. The Lory Park Zoo says it is operating in a challenging environment compared to other animal sanctuaries in Gauteng as it aims to educate visitors about animal conservation. Located about 65km from Johannesburg in President Park, Midrand, the Lory Park Zoo is privately owned and receives no funding or subsidies from the City of Johannesburg. Both the Johannesburg and Pretoria Zoos are owned by their respective municipalities, which attract a lot of visitors because of the different species of animals they house. Animal welfare Lory Park Zoo manager Andre Le Roux told The Citizen that the zoo is a fraction of the size of Joburg and Pretoria, with fewer species, but visitors are in closer proximity to the animals. 'Some of our animals are rescues, some are part of conservation projects. We have owls, snakes, and other birds that visitors can interact with. We also have an enrichment talk for the big cats for visitors.' ALSO READ: Calls for elephants being held at Joburg Zoo to be released Zoo visits Le Roux said they rely on the public and school visits to meet their financial obligations to run the zoo. 'Our motto is educate, experience and enjoy, and we get a lot of compliments from the public that the zoo is clean.' Animals by sea Meanwhile, global animal welfare organisation Four Paws has called on the South African public to speak up against the inhumane practice of live animal exports by sea. This follows the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development's publication of the draft Regulations for the Exportation of Live Animals by Sea under the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962. 'To ensure animal welfare concerns are heard, Four Paws has launched a dedicated e-action platform that allows members of the public to submit their objections quickly and easily. The deadline for submissions is 25 August 2025,' said Four Paws. Draft regulations Fiona Miles, director at Four Paws, said animals exported by sea suffer immensely during transport—enduring heat stress, motion sickness, injury, disease, harsh conditions, inadequate space, and the possibility of failed ventilation systems. 'The draft Regulations fail to adequately protect animals and allow for vague, unenforceable standards that will enable industry to self-regulate. Once a ship is at sea, South Africa's laws no longer have jurisdiction, leaving animals without protection. 'These Regulations offer little more than false assurance. The only way to truly protect animals from the horrific suffering associated with live export is to prohibit the practice entirely,' said Miles. NOW READ: Tourists urged to stay in cars after grandfather trampled by elephant
