South Africa : Nashia Ogbuagu (An Impactful Moment)

An Impactful Moment

Cape Town’s history is entrenched with a slew of tragedies, sorrow, and beauty. The District Six Museum exemplifies this by showcasing an array of stories and artifacts from a period in Cape Town’s past that will forever be etched into the city. District Six was a community built by freed slaves, immigrants, and merchants that was known for its rich culture (SA History). That was until the South African government announced that District Six would only be allocated to white settlers during the apartheid regime. This began the forced removal of approximately 60,000 Coloured and Black South Africans from a lively neighborhood into a destitute land. These South African’s homes were demolished and turned into rubble to ensure that they could and would not return (Britannica).

By far, this was one of the most eye-opening experiences during my program. Prior to coming to this museum, I had only grazed the surface of District Six’s history and after fully immersing myself into the knowledge that the museum offered, it was quite challenging to grapple with the horrors of people who are still affected by the forced removal today. However, the District Six Museum aims to aid in the restitution of those impacted by conserving and highlighting all that was lost and destroyed so it will always be remembered.

Brittanica. (n.d.). District Six. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/District-Six/601994

History, SA. (n.d.). District Six, Cape Town. District Six, Cape Town | South African History Online. https://www.sahistory.org.za/place/district-six-cape-town

 

 

 

Nashia Ogbuagu

Major: Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Operations and Technology Management

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Program: University of Cape Town Exchange