KEYNOTE ADDRESS by Chepape Makgato on Heritage Day Celebrations at Umsunduzi Museum, Pietermaritzburg

Celebrating the Legacy of Our Freedom Heroes and Heroines Through the Visual Arts and Craft: 30 Years of Preserving Our Ancestral Heritage

Good morning, distinguished guests, colleagues, and fellow lovers of the arts. It is an honour to stand before you today as we gather to celebrate the incredible legacy of our freedom heroes and heroines. A special acknowledgment to the Umsunduzi Museum for hosting this significant occasion.

Before we begin, allow me to have us observe a moment of silence in tribute to the following arts and cultural practitioners who sadly transitioned:

- Professor Muxe Nkondo (Academic and Heritage Expert)

- Connie Chiume (Veteran Actress and Filmmaker)

- Ayesha Price (Visual Artist and Educator)

- Darlington Papa G Michaels (Veteran Actor)

- Mashokwa Moekwa (Digital Artist and Graphic Designer)

- Sello Motloung (Veteran Actor and Presenter)

- Robin Malan (Author, Playwright, and Publisher)

Their contributions to our cultural landscape are deeply valued, and we honour their legacies today.

As we reflect on 30 years of democracy, we celebrate the immense sacrifices of our freedom fighters, whose bravery continues to inspire generations. Our freedom was not easily won, and today we acknowledge the role of the visual arts and craft in preserving their legacies and our shared cultural heritage.

Visual arts have long been a powerful medium of expression in South Africa, capturing both the horrors of apartheid and the triumph of freedom. Likewise, craft has preserved ancestral traditions and sustained cultural identity in the face of adversity.

This morning, I will share with you how these forms of artistic expression have become bridges between our past, present, and future, and how they continue to empower communities.

Throughout history, artists such as David Koloane, Dumile Feni, Pat Mautloa, and Hellen Sebidi used their talents to document and resist apartheid. They created visual narratives that depicted the resilience of Black South Africans, and through their work, the world bore witness to the struggles endured. 

- David Koloane’s urban landscapes reflected the daily hardships of Johannesburg’s townships, while Dumile Feni, known as the “Goya of the townships,” portrayed the raw emotions of despair and suffering under apartheid.

- Hellen Sebidi used rich symbolism to connect traditional African practices with modern-day social struggles, while Pat Mautloa’s mixed media artworks embodied layers of history, blending cultural identity with the complexities of human life.

Today, we see the continuation of this legacy in the works of contemporary artists such as Nelson Makamo, Mary Sibande, and Philemon Hlungwani. These artists, while born into a free South Africa, grapple with themes of identity, history, and the enduring impact of our nation's past.

- Nelson Makamo’s vibrant portraits of African children exude hope and resilience, portraying an optimistic future for the next generation.

- Mary Sibande, through her dynamic explorations of race and gender, offers thought-provoking commentary on Black womanhood, while Nandipha Mntambo challenges historical narratives by reclaiming space for women in both African and global contexts.

These artists embody the strength of our cultural heritage and ensure the legacies of our freedom fighters live on through contemporary storytelling.

Our craft traditions—beadwork, pottery, weaving—represent the resilience of African heritage. These art forms have been passed down through generations, acting as vessels of cultural knowledge, and preserving the stories of our ancestors.

One of the most common mistakes we make in recounting South Africa's liberation history is allowing political freedom fighters to dominate the entire narrative, overshadowing the invaluable contributions of cultural workers. Artists like Hugh Masekela, Selaelo Maredi, Miriam Makeba, and many others used their collective talents to wage their own battle for freedom through music, theatre, and storytelling. Their creative works became powerful tools of resistance, spreading the message of liberation globally and raising awareness of the atrocities of apartheid. Some of these cultural warriors even faced the harshest repression, with their works banned or burned by the Apartheid regime’s Secret Police Service. By erasing or sidelining their contributions, we diminish a vital aspect of the liberation struggle—one that shaped the hearts and minds of South Africans and the world, pushing forward the fight for justice in a unique and impactful way.

For many freedom fighters in exile, crafting was a way to remain connected to their roots, keeping alive the traditions that colonial and apartheid regimes sought to erase. Through their hands, they carried symbols of endurance, cultural pride, and resistance across borders, ensuring that our ancestral stories were not forgotten.

In the last three decades, exhibitions like A Luta Continua by Constitutional Court Art Collection and 30 Years of Democracy - Artists Across Generations co-curated by Happy Dhlame and Chepape Makgato at the William Humphreys Art Gallery in Kimberley, have provided platforms for artists to reflect on the path from oppression to liberation. These visual narratives have allowed us to honour the sacrifices of our freedom fighters and to celebrate our hard-won democracy.

The works of pioneers like Koloane and Feni remind us that art is not just a form of protest but also a means of healing. At the same time, newer artists such as Sibande and Makamo take up this mantle, exploring complex themes around identity, race, and history in ways that speak to both local and global audiences.

Together, these generations of artists create a powerful visual dialogue, ensuring that the legacies of our heroes remain relevant and vibrant in the collective imagination.

Visual arts and craft are not only expressions of creativity but also powerful educational tools. They offer younger generations the opportunity to engage with the histories of our freedom fighters and learn from the values that shaped their struggles.

Initiatives such as the Samanthole Institute of Creative Arts are at the forefront of this effort, using both traditional and contemporary art forms to empower rural communities. By teaching young people these skills, we ensure that cultural knowledge is preserved and that our heritage remains a living, evolving force.

As we look to the future, it is crucial to support the next generation of artists. We must continue to build platforms that nurture emerging talent and create opportunities for young artists to document and interpret our evolving national identity.

The connection between artists like David Koloane and Nelson Makamo is vital; it demonstrates the continuity of artistic expression, from the fight for freedom to the celebration of our hard-won democracy. By bridging the past and the present, we sustain the legacy of our freedom heroes and ensure that their sacrifices are not forgotten.

As we celebrate 30 years of freedom, let us recognise the immense role that visual arts and craft have played—and continue to play—in preserving the memory of our freedom heroes. The legacies of David Koloane, Helen Sebidi, Nelson Makamo, and others endure through their art, keeping alive the stories of our struggle, triumph, and resilience.

Let us commit ourselves to nurturing this cultural heritage for future generations, ensuring that the voices of our past continue to inspire, educate, and empower.

Thank you.

Chepape Makgato is an independent visual artist, theatre producer, arts writer, educator, curator, and researcher. He is the founder and creative director of Samanthole Institute of Creative Arts which leads the Art Focus of Univeristy of Limpopo's FNB Incubation Program. Chepape is a Chief  Curator of William Humphreys Art Gallery, in Kimberley, Northern Cape. He holds a Master's Degree in Fine Art from the University of the Witwatersrand and has exhibited his work locally and internationally. He is currently a PhD candidate in the Art and Music Department at the University of South Africa. He is a deputy chairperson of South African Museums Association Central (Free State and Northern Cape provinces). He serves on the panel of Acquisition Committee of ArtBank South Africa. He is the the chief patron of Khehla Chepape Makgato Youth Libraries.