Be the legacy - Commemorating the Nelson Mandela centenary

A celebration of hope and human creativity

2018 marks the centenary of President Nelson Mandela’s birth, one of Africa’s greatest leaders. His life and work stand not only for the resilience of the South African people, but also for the deeper significance Africa’s experience has to the whole world.

Colonialism and racial discrimination were not simply crimes against Africans. They were grave violations of the values and principles by which mankind wishes to be judged. In fighting to end colonialism and racial discrimination, South Africans appealed to higher human values and placed a mirror in front of the world so that it could see itself when bigotry and hatred are allowed to flourish. With his commitment to reconciliation and forgiveness, President Nelson Mandela reminded us all that we are one big family founded on values that transcend local cultures and particular interests.

The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa and the Centre for African Studies of the University of Basel wish to celebrate the hope and human creativity represented by President Nelson Mandela’s political legacy together with you. We would like to bring together scholars with a broader Swiss public to reflect on the meaning of the struggle for freedom and human dignity in South Africa and the lessons to be learned for Swiss and European debates.

Program:

4.00pm    Welcome & introduction

• Ambassador Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele, Head of Mission, South African Embassy, Berne
• Veit Arlt, Executive Secretary of the Centre for African Studies, University of Basel

4.15pm    Roundtable: Making a Difference

• Sathyandranath 'Mac'  Maharaj
• Elísio Macamo
• Therese Steffen
• Danelle van Zyl-Hermann

5.15pm    Break

5.45pm    Panel Celebrating Hope and Human Creativity

• Giorgio Miescher
• Fatima Mukaddam
• Sophie Oldfield
• Lorena Rizzo

6.45pm    Break

7.00pm    Welcome notes

• Ambassador Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele
• Elísio Macamo

7.15pm    Reception

8.00pm    Concert: The Swiss-South African Jazz Quintet

Registration:

www.africaforum.unibas.ch/registration

Download:

Flyer (pdf)

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