#WomensMonth made possible by
Constitution Hill commemorates Women's Month
Constitution Hill Women's Jail will be commemorating Woman's Month with onsite workshops, screenings, exhibitions, and conferences, as part of #HERstory programme, till the 30 August 2017.
The slogan for this year’s Woman’s month programme is WOMANDLA – “Commemorating The Courage & Triumph Of HERstory”.
Now a beacon of hope for the South African democracy, Constitution Hill has, in its history, a painful past where many political woman prisoners were incarcerated for standing up for woman’s rights. These political women include Winnie Mandela, Albertina Sisulu, Fatima Meer, Barbara Hogan, and Esther Barsel.
During this year’s women’s month campaign, the stories of these political stalwarts and ordinary citizens will be remembered and retold as life lessons for current and future generations to never repeat the atrocities of the past.
Engaging programme dialogue
The programme for the month is a robust and engaging programme with overriding themes of reciting scenes of the past and having essential dialogues depict the plight of women in our present-day democracy as well as the pivotal role of our constitution plays. It is history as told by the voices of women, and therefore titled #HERstory.
The activities include a Democracy Dialogue by Thuli Madonsela, two exhibition launches, one of which depicts artworks by Fatima Meer which she painted while incarcerated at the Women’s Jail, a night tour and storytelling by former prisoners of the Women’s Jail, a Long Table Intergenerational dinner, as well as a commemoration of Charlotte Maxeke and Adelaide Tambo.
The #HERstory programme:
- 4-6 August 2o17: Mzansi Women Film Festival
- 4 August 2017: Women in Media Conference
- 8 August 2017: “Pride & Loss” exhibition launch, curated by Zanele Muholi
- 9 August 2017: #Demologues Intergenerational Dialogue by the Thuli Madonsela Foundation
- 12 August 2017: Gender Agenda Forum Workshop
- 17 August 2017: She Runs the Night women’s night run with performance artist Anthea Moyes
- 17 August 2017: Women’s Jail Night Tour and Story Telling with Women’s Jail former prisoners
- 22 August 2017: Fatima Meer exhibition
- 22 August 2017: Intergenerational Long Table Dinner
- 23 August 2017: POUT Magazine Launch
- 24 August 2017: Activate Women’s Dialogue
- 25 August 2017: Department of Basic Education Commemoration of Charlotte Maxeke and Adelaide Tambo
- 26 August 2017: Creative Women’s Conference
- 30 August 2017: Gentle Brothers Dinner and Conversation
Full programme details can be viewed on www.constitutionhill.org.za/events.
