Last Tuesday, June 16, to mark Youth Day, the Rhodes Office of Equity and Institutional Culture together with the Fingo Festival, held a 'dialogue' event at the Fingo Library.
Last Tuesday, June 16, to mark Youth Day, the Rhodes Office of Equity and Institutional Culture together with the Fingo Festival, held a 'dialogue' event at the Fingo Library.
The aim was to encourage discussion and debate around the theme of "Responsible citizenship and an engaged citizenry”.
It included a wide range of participants including activist, columnist, founder of pan-Africanist journal "African Voices of the Left" and author of "Memoirs of a Born Free", Malaika Wa Azania, as well as local government employees, Rhodes staff, students, high school learners, community-based organisations and local people.
Everyone there was encouraged to talk to each other and explore opinions and ideas about responsibility and engagement – especially in relation to young people, the generation that will take this country into the future.
Xolile Madinda, founder and director of the Fingo Festival, played recordings of the late Steve Bantu Biko and the US civil rights activist, Malcolm X, saying, "In order to know where you're going, you have to know where you're coming from".
The participants also thought about the meaning of Youth Day.
Tina Madasa (16), who is doing grade 10 at Kingswood College, said that June 16 is about honouring the youth and the fact that, no matter what background you come from, if young people stand together we can change the future.
She added, "One does not need to wait around for others, but instead take care of your own life".
