A fascinating photographic exhibition telling the story of the people of Kliptown opened at the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication on the 56th anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter. Then, over 3 000 people made their way to that Square to take part in the Congress of the People to draw up the Charter that remains the bedrock of South Africa’s Constitution.
The Kliptown Open Air Museum, in partnership with Bolo Studios, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and Dijalo Property Management, are hosting the exhibition that includes works by Oom Bolo of Bolo Studios, the remaining member of the influential Kliptown Snappers, who has an extensive collection of images of Kliptown.
These images will be accompanied by photographs from the Kliptown Our Town Heritage Trust as well as current work by the Soweto Kliptown Youth (SKY) as well as pictures by other photographers and members of the community that include archival photographs, media photos and family albums.
The images reveal the social life of this iconic township from yesteryear and today. Documentation of important events that took place in the area include the meeting of parliament at the (WSSD) in 2008 and influential figures in politics, sport and social life, running side by side with images of the everyday people and events of Kliptown.
The exhibition was opened by struggle stalwart, Ahmed Kathrada, who was present on that historic day in 1955 when the Freedom Charter was adopted.
The exhibition will be open Monday to Friday 10am to 5 pm and closes on July 25, 2011.