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Enjoy the freedom to choose, to participate, see, discover, and explore with Iziko Museums of South Africa.

Iziko Museums will be celebrating Freedom Day, 27 April 2021, by providing visitors with the freedom to participate in one, or all, of our Freedom Day events. Join Iziko Museums for a virtual public discussion, a new exhibition virtual launch as well as *FREE entry to selected Iziko Museums!

© Iziko Museums of South Africa

South Africa’s first democratic election was a momentous occasion that remains etched in the hearts, minds and memories of citizens. Across the nation, individuals gathered at polling stations, queuing for hours on 27 April 1994, to make their mark. Since then, millions of South Africans have been born free into a constitutional democracy. But what does freedom mean today, twenty-seven years after our first democratic elections were held?

Freedom to participate: Join Iziko Museums, Dr Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh, Nkosikhulule Xhawulengweni Nyembezi and Ms Lebohang Liepollo Pheko for a virtual public discussion, as they unpack the meaning of Freedom Day in the time of Covid-19 and a democratic South Africa. Share your thoughts, ideas and experiences at 11h00 during this live Zoom event; register here to participate: http://bit.ly/FreedomDay_ZoomRegistration.

© Iziko Museums of South Africa

Freedom to explore our history: Join curator and author, Lynn Carneson, Judge Albie Sachs, Melene Rossou, Wesley Neumann and Zandile Tshamlambo for an intergenerational conversation at 14h00 for the virtual launch of ‘Red in the Rainbow’ – a new multimedia exhibition featuring graphic, video and sound material, as well as a reconstruction of a replica prison cell from the 1970s, set to open at the Iziko Slave Lodge on 27 April 2021. Register here to explore our history: http://bit.ly/RedInTheRainbow_ZoomRegistration.

A new exhibition, entitled ‘Men Affirming Dignity (MAD)’, also opens at the Iziko Slave Lodge on 27 April 2021. MAD is the South African Faith and Family Institute’s (SAFFI) travelling multimedia exhibition which starts its journey at the Iziko Slave Lodge. ‘MAD’ seeks to amplify the expressed humanity in the narratives and histories of men who live their lives cultivating Ubuntu by affirming their own dignity as well as that of women, children and other men in relationships and communities.

Freedom to visit: Explore selected Iziko Museums for *FREE on Freedom Day! This includes the Iziko South African Museum, the Iziko South African National Gallery, the Iziko Slave Lodge and the Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum. The Museums are open from 10h00 to 14h30 on Freedom Day, and the ISAM, ISANG and ISL have two 90 minute timed-access sessions, at 10h00 and 12h30, with cleaning in between. Plan your visit here: https://www.iziko.org.za/whats-on!

© Iziko Museums of South Africa

Freedom Day commemorates the day in 1994 when the first democratic election was held in South Africa. Today, 27 years into our democracy, South Africa continues to celebrate the liberation of the country and its people from years of colonialism and apartheid – where Freedom Day serves as a reminder of the values of the Freedom Struggle and the importance of building an active citizenry in working towards dismantling the legacy of racism and inequality, as well as the promotion of the human rights enshrined in South Africa’s constitution.

Iziko Museums of South Africa (Iziko) operates 11 national museums, the Planetarium and Digital Dome, the Social History Centre and three collection-specific libraries in Cape Town. The museums that make up Iziko have their own history and character, presenting extensive art, social and natural history collections that reflect our diverse African heritage. Iziko is a public entity and public benefit organisation that brings together these museums under a single governance and leadership structure. The organisation allows *free access to all individuals on commemorative days, (*excluding the Castle of Good Hope, Groot Constantia and Planetarium and Digital Dome).

When visiting the Museums, your health and safety, and that of our staff, is of utmost importance. Please note that there are COVID-19 protocols in place to ensure the safety of both staff and visitors; we thank you for all your efforts in maintaining social distancing to keep both yourself and us safe.

Throughout this uncertain period, Iziko has been online and working to showcase our unique work and collections on the website. Visit www.iziko.org.za to explore all that we have on offer, and keep up-to-date on COVID-19 safety protocols and opening hours. Make sure to also like, follow and share our social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok!

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