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25 February 2009

The national Department of Arts and Culture will host a series of events to honour Sarah Bartmann. The events, which are part of the International Women's Day, include an academic colloquium, a launch of the Sarah Bartmann Centre of Remembrance architectural competition and a cultural evening. The department has partnered the Western and Eastern Cape provinces, the University of Western Cape, Kouga Municipality, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and the Khoi-San Agency to ensure that the planned activities are as inclusive and productive as possible.

Sarah Bartmann, a South African Khoi-San woman, was captured as a slave and taken to London where she became the object of racism and exploitation. She was subsequently displayed as a "scientific curiosity".

Government acknowledges the tribulations and trials of Sarah Bartmann and the role that the Khoi-San people played in the struggle against colonialism and racism. In this regard, government has decided to establish the Sarah Centre of Remembrance, the Sarah Bartmann Human Rights Memorial and the Khoi-San Heritage Route. This is part of our efforts to address the historical imbalances in the heritage sector of our country.

Bartmann was later moved to Paris, where she continued to be exhibited by an animal trainer in degrading displays for public amusement. When she died, her body parts were preserved and exhibited in the Museum of Natural History in Paris, where they remained on display until 1974 after which they were placed in storage. On 9 August 2002, the remains of Sarah Bartmann were laid to rest at Hankey, the area of her birth near the Gamtoos River Valley in the Eastern Cape.

On 6 March 2009, the colloquium at the University of Western Cape will focus on issues such as gender oppression, de-humanisation and objectification of women, stereotyping, racism and genocide.

The architectural competition brief will be unveiled on 7 March 2009 in Hankey, Eastern Cape province. To mark International Women's Day, Minister Jordan will host a cultural event in Cape Town on 8 March 2009. Programmes will be released in due course.

Media enquiries:
Mack Lewele
Cell: 082 450 5076

Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
25 February 2009