The founder of The Refilwe Pieterse Foundation, Refilwe Pieterse, believes Alexandrans live in a world where formal libraries, though full, often fall silent on the truths of marginalised communities.

She professes that books no longer feed truth to the people, and pages gather dust while lived experiences remain unheard.

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What she has is a deepening conviction that Alexandra’s storytellers, long confined to society’s hidden corners, must step into the light and become living libraries themselves.

Through her foundation and its project, The Alex Storytellers Hub’s Imbawula initiative, Pieterse seeks to restore truth by creating libraries out of human beings. “Here [Storytellers’ Hub], testimony becomes text, memory becomes archive, and voices become volumes,” she said.

As founder and lead researcher of the Alex Storytellers Hub, Pieterse shines light on Alexandra’s legacy through storytelling, research, and creative facilitation. She has since issued a call to Alex storytellers to become part of the 2026 Digital Archive Mentorship Programme, designed to uplift high school learners and existing storytellers.

She said the 2026 edition carries the powerful theme: Imbawula: Where the Fire of Alex Story Burns, the Spirit Speaks, which she defines as a poetic invocation of resilience, remembrance, and communal healing.

“This edition marks a bold collaboration between South African and US-based universities, highlighting Brandeis and Wits University, researchers, educators, and cultural stewards, united in their commitment to uplift Alexandra township through mentorship, skills development, and intergenerational storytelling.”

Pieterse defined Imbawula not just as an initiative but a movement that shines a global spotlight on Alexandra’s rich heritage, honouring every name, every story, and every trace that has shaped its 113-year journey. “From elders to youth, from musicians to market traders, this initiative calls forth the voices that have long lived in the margins and brings them into the light.”

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She explained that at its heart, the Alex Storytellers Hub Imbawula is about creating a safe community space for storytelling and healing. The programme seeks to address the injustice and inequality caused by the absence of a community story archive.

The programme will focus on 12 themes centred on apartheid heritage and community self-governance. “Over the course of 2026, our collective goal is to archive 85 stories, profile 30 activists, collect 10 000 photographs, and host exhibitions that celebrate and preserve these narratives.”

She said the archive will officially go live in 2027 and will be accessible to schools, local libraries, heritage centres, and community centres.

Her key collaborators include two respected assistant professors at Brandeis University, Emilie Diouf and Dorothy Kim, as well as South African apartheid literature scholar Unifier Tshimangadzo Dyer and Johannes Matseke.

To apply to the programme, send a motivation letter and CV to [email protected] before January 5, 2026.

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