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Archival Platform launches in Cape Town
The crowd /
Photo Darryl Pienaar
The Archival Platform launched formally on 12 November.
Over 80 people came to the launch at the Castle, in spite of the unseasonal rain buffeting Cape Town. The excellent attendance, and the messages of support we received from as far as India, demonstrated the importance of this initiative. People commented that the AP has indeed brought back to the sector some of the democratic excitement of the 1990s. What was particularly striking was the wide range of attendees, from provincial archives, universities, museums, heritage sites, genealogical societies, community heritage organisations, and other places.
The Bow Heritage Agents /
Photo Darryl Pienaar
The Bow Heritage Agents, young musicians reviving indigenous musical forms, gave a performance. They included Thokozani Mhlambi, now a part-time correspondent for the Platform.
The MC for the evening was Ciraj Rassool of UWC, board member of the SA History Archive, who spoke eloquently on the need for the AP.
Sello Hatang /
Photo Darryl Pienaar
Sello Hatang, Information Communications Manager at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, spoke about trends in the perceived value and importance of archive in South Africa since the 1980s. The bombing of the anti-Apartheid SA Council of Churches headquarters at Khotso House in 1988 highlighted the need to keep archives outside the country, and the People’s History movement emphasised the importance of remaking narratives of the past. The emphasis placed by the liberation movement on the importance of access to information about the past was enshrined in the Constitution of 1996 and in initiatives like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. However, by the time formal systems like the Protection of Access to Information Act came to be implemented, the liberation movement demanding access to documents had become a government that was not sufficiently invested in providing this access to its citizens. The Archives Advisory Council was a body that has become increasingly unable to represent a critical voice in addressing this crisis. Sello welcomed the Archival Platform initiative, especially the Letters to Lulu campaign, as a way of engaging more effectively with government. He particularly singled out the monthly blogs as a forum for expressing sector opinion.
Ciraj Rassool and Harriet Deacon /
Photo Darryl Pienaar
Harriet Deacon, current Director of the Platform, finished off the speeches by underlining the need for this initiative and the excellent response we have received. The archive – records, memory, cultural practice and places that tell the stories of the past – is critical to our sense of identity and citizenship. Yet the archive in South Africa is facing serious challenges which include the lack of sufficient public and government investment in the sector, hampering access to the record of the past, and the fragmentation of the professional sector. In helping to address these challenges, the Archival Platform provides resources and opportunities for information-sharing and debate. It already speaks to a large network of professionals working in archives, museums and heritage disciplines, government employees and interested members of the general public. The Archival Platform will ensure that key issues are taken up by professionals, the public and government. She spoke about the “Letters for Lulu” campaign, in the spirit of “Tips for Trevor”, in which professionals in the sector alerted the new Minister of Arts and Culture, the Honourable Lulu Xingwana, to issues of concern within the sector. She noted that these letters will be presented to the Minister at the end of November.
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Comments
I am involved in the process of searching for, and preserving, Heritage photography which is
in grave danger of being forever lost through neglect, or lack of facilities. It is of paramount importance that
there is some form of sufficient funding to step up the pace of research and the much needed work force to
grow in tandem with the size of the enormity of this project.
Congrats on a wonderful initiative.
I am producer / director / cameraman of the cultural series ‘Voices of Africa’ screened on SABC 1 in 2007. The series was recommended for a PANSALB award, as well as interest obtained from the Memories of the World archives.
I would be very keen to meet with Dr Deacon to discuss some ideas on further recording of oral traditions, IKS and preservation of cultures for archival purposes.
Please let me know when you have some time to get together.
Kind rergards,
Bjorn Rudner
021 4486501
Some comments on the launch from our Facebook pages and my email inbox:
Hale Lahui, Papua New Guinea: congratulations on the launching of the “Archival Platform”. We are blessed with a high degree of cultural diversity, much of it in intangible form, and having to update your activities from your part of the world (Africa) through the “Platform” is absolutely fascinating! Would the ‘Platform’ have any A…frican experiences of the cultural mapping programme? Many thanks and cheers
Ashley Lillie, CT: Congratulations on the ‘launch’ of the Platform last night. This is an excellent initiative that is already doing much to encourage a better understanding of the roles and functions of our sector. Let’s hope that this leads to stronger institutions and better empowered professionals in the various disciplines. The beginnings are certainly promising.
Ignatius Sb Lekoekoe: hope we will be updated with the day’s events and discussions. keep up the good work!! Archival Platform deserves all the best.
Hale Lahui, Papua new Guinea: congratulations on the launching of the “Archival Platform”. We are blessed with a high degree of cultural diversity, much of it in intangible form, and having to update your activities from your part of the world (Africa) through the “Platform” is absolutely fascinating! Would the ‘Platform’ have any African experiences of the cultural mapping programme? Many thanks and cheers
Yonah Seleti, NIKSO: MANY THANKS FOR EXTENDING THE INVITATION TO ATTEND THE LAUNCH OF THE ARCHIVAL PLATFORM. UNFORTUNATELY, THE NATIONAL INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS OFFICE WILL BE IN EMPANGENI CONSULTING WITH THE COMMUNITIES ON THE NATIONAL RECORDAL SYSTEM AND THE PILOT PROJECT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND. ON BEHALF OF NIKSO WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH WELL AND SUCCESS WITH THE LAUNCH.
David Worth, CT: sorry I couldn’t be there, but wish you well on a good project.
Jillian Carman, JHB: This looks great, wish I could be there.
Joanne Duggan, The Heritage Agency: SO SORRY NOT TO HAVE BEEN IN CAPE TOWN TO ATTEND THIS, HOPE IT WENT WELL!!
Ilse Assman, SABC: I would have loved to come. Good luck and all the best. I think it is a great initiative.
ANDRE ODENDAAL, CT: SORRY I CANT MAKE THE 12TH BUT I’D LIKE TO BE KEPT ON THE MAILING LIST.
Joseph Gaylard, JHB: Sorry that I’ll miss it - you should do one in JHB as well!
Julie Parle, KZN: Harriet - I wish we could be in Cape Town to attend the Archival Platform launch: viva!
Juanita Pastor-Makhurane, Cape Town: I think you have done an incredible job so far in raising awareness around heritage and identify and making so much resources available to the heritage sector! It is a much needed resource and the sector has benefited so much in the short time that you have been running it.
Lynette Maart, Cape Town: Thank you so much for a very well put together function last night. The speeches and food were good. Thank you for the time to network and socialise with colleagues in the field. Keep up the good work!
Marsha McDowell, MSU: Just wanted to say hip hip hooray for this wonderful resource!
Monica Sue Morrison, Botswana: Wish I could be there, Harriet but congratulations on the launch anyway!
Nabirye Zaina, UWC student: I and some of my classmates could not attend the launch because of the time that was set. we could not board the train so late in the evening back to the hostel.
Peter Merrington, UWC: very best wishes for the launch and I’ll look out for report of it on the website.
Rajiv Trivedi: Glad to receive your invitation. I am sure that Archival Platform shall be able to serve its goals and do the world a great service.
Rieks Smeets, Maastricht: congratulations for the launching of the Archival Platform
Ritu Sethi, India: Thank you Harriet, would love to have come if I had been in the vicinity.
Rob Baum, GIPCA: Although I will be unable to attend the launch, I have looked at the site and found it interesting. Please keep me advised of future addresses.
Roger Layton, JHB: I am very impressed with your Archival Platform and it represents the best of modern web environments with links to the social networking sites as well as professional look and feel. You have done a great job with this and with the quality of the content and issues that you are raising.
Rome Godwin: Well, I’d love to come, of course, but I live in London. hope it’s well attended and inspiring.
Shamil Jeppie: Best wishes for a wonderful event!
Sibongile van Damme, SAHRA: I would have loved to come.
Tamar Grover, UCT student: I must thank you for introducing me to the platform when we met at the Oral History Conference some weeks back. It is an invaluable resource.
Tracy Bailey, CHET: Just heard your insert on Cape Talk news – about the launch of the Platform and your voice clip. Fantastic!
we hope to see you all next year in maastricht!