When the Rhodes Dean of Students’ office suggested that students commemorate the Sharpeville massacre,
the meeting room was silent.
“No one at the meeting wanted to do it that broke my heart,” said law student Yolanda Itamba. “Sharpeville was one of the defining moments in South African history.
When the Rhodes Dean of Students’ office suggested that students commemorate the Sharpeville massacre,
the meeting room was silent.
“No one at the meeting wanted to do it that broke my heart,” said law student Yolanda Itamba. “Sharpeville was one of the defining moments in South African history.
It showed what happened when there were no legal institutions to enforce people’s rights and they had to stand up for themselves.”
So, rather than a march or a lecture, Itamba volunteered to organise an event featuring the arts. “You can listen to words, but this does not capture the moment the way a song or a poem does,” she said.
For Itamba, remembering Sharpeville is about “awareness and appreciation”. She speaks about the importance of reflecting on history, saying that the present is a consequence of the past.
Itamba approached the head of the Rhodes Drama Department, Prof Gary Gordon, during Orientation Week to help her locate any drama students interested in participating in a commemoration.
She contacted BUA, a Rhodes poetry society, who were eager to participate. She was also referred to the Bantubonke Drama Group.
She persuaded the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof Jonathan Campbell, to recite the Dennis Brutus poem, Sharpeville. “What he wrote about Sharpeville is quite deep and meaningful,” said Itamba.
Why Campbell? “He is in a good position to do this because he knows Brutus’s work, and can reflect on the essence of it more than someone else can.”
Itamba also approached sociology lecturer Babalwa Sishuta. “She is an avid scholar, and it would be good to have a sociological perspective on the events of Sharpeville,” she said.
Itamba laments the apathy towards knowledge of South African history. “It is quite disconcerting that people don’t know the historical significance of Sharpeville.
Today’s society takes içt for granted that we have this constitution, and these rights,” she said. “We don’t have a sense of appreciation for what happened, or even awareness of it.
Events like Sharpeville shaped history.” She believes that this is a concern in neighbouring countries, and worldwide.”It is easy to appreciate something when it’s just been fought for. But there is nothing done now to remind us.”
