Storytelling and heritage exhibition celebrates Nelson Mandela’s legacy
Arts, culture and community spirit came together at the Kamoraleng Heritage Institute to honour Nelson Mandela through poetry, music, photography and dialogue.
The Kamoraleng Heritage Institute hosted the Changing A Narrative Storytelling Exhibition and Dialogue in honour of Nelson Mandela’s legacy on July 26.
The event brought together arts, culture and community spirit in a celebration of heritage and history. Attendees enjoyed a captivating photography exhibition, craft and design stalls and book displays.
The air was filled with poetry readings and the soulful sounds of marimbas, creating an atmosphere of reflection and joy that honoured Mandela’s philanthropic work.
ALSO READ: Ekurhuleni and company join forces to revitalise Winnie Mandela Park
“Our history and heritage have been preserved through storytelling, passed down from generation to generation for moral guidance,” said founder Develd Monyai.
“Our heritage is our identity. It defines us as people driven by love, wisdom, and knowledge.”
Monyai emphasised the power of storytelling to redefine identity.
“We all have a story to tell. We must tell stories that reclaim our originality and authenticity. Changing our narrative involves decolonising education, preserving indigenous languages and continuing dialogues like today’s.”
One highlight was the gifting of the book I Come To Seek Wisdom by poet and activist Enock Shishenge, which pays tribute to Mongane Wally Serote, one of SA’s most revered literary figures.
ALSO READ: SPCAs get owl boxes in Mandela Day drive
Monyai described Serote as a “national treasure, poet-laureate, and cultural custodian”.
Shishenge, a multi-award-winning poet, teacher, trade unionist and indigenous languages activist, was born in the Jim Jones village, Limpopo, and is now based in Ivory Park.
Reflecting on his work, he said, “‘I come to seek wisdom’ is a refrain that echoes through the pages, resonating with the unfinished struggle for true liberation in post-apartheid SA.”
ALSO READ: EWC learners bring Mandela Day joy to Glenny Terrace seniors
Drawing from history and personal experiences, including his participation in an international poetry festival in China, Shishenge explained how Serote’s influence shaped his poetry.
Like Serote, his work navigates art, memory and resistance, blending the personal with the political.
“At its core, I Come To Seek Wisdom is a search for true wisdom and freedom.
“In a world still fractured by inequality, the insights of elders like Serote remain essential.
“This book honours a legacy spanning more than five decades and affirms that Serote’s words and spirit are woven into the fabric of SA consciousness.”
