Exhibition tells journey of migrant labourers

The exhibition, Ngezinyawo-Migrant Journeys which captures the development of the migrant system in South Africa is one that resonates well with Kabelo Kgatea.

Kgatea is a third generation migrant labourer and can still recollect the arduous journey made by his grandfather, father and him to the minefields of South Africa.

His emotional recollection of his family’s history took place at the Wits Art Museum’s latest exhibition which is compiled of various aspects of the migrant labour system in South Africa.

“The journey this exhibition takes is one of suffering and hope, dreams and poverty and it is one that is a part of all our history,” he said.

The exhibition also highlighted a phenomenon that still occurs in the country and one that continues to have an impact on the economy.

The exhibition was curated by Fiona Rankin-Smith, in collaboration with Peter Delius and Laura Philips and sourced various photographs, sculptors and historical artefacts to accurately capture the journey and experience of the migrants. Delius described the labour system as an enduring symbol of slavery and oppression in South Africa.

According to Jessica Foli, the marketing co-ordinator at the museum, the exhibition is a combination of traditional artworks and contemporary ones.

“Some of the objects presented in the exhibition were those carried by the migrants to remind them of home while others are more recent ones,” Foli said.

Speaking at the launch of the exhibition, vice-chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand, Adam Habib described the migrant system as one central to the history of the university and the Witwatersrand area.

“This exhibition resonates with what Wits is because it grew from the labour system that developed,” he said.

Ngezinyawo-Migrant Journeys opened on 10 April at WAM and will run until 20 July 2014. The opening took place at WAM on 9 April.