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The Individual, Auto/biography and History in South Africa

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memorials to forced removals, a memorial to the San, <strong>and</strong> commemorations of pre‐<br />

colonial heritage, the creation of missionary trails, <strong>and</strong> commemorations of events, such as<br />

the Congress of the People, 1955, Sharpeville 1960, <strong>and</strong> Soweto 1976, deemed to be<br />

“historical turn<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>ts”. Such diverse projects, it was felt, would “acknowledge <strong>and</strong><br />

celebrate <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>’s multi‐cultural heritage”. 117<br />

It was recommended that “careful consideration” be given to representations of leaders.<br />

While “monuments to liv<strong>in</strong>g leaders” needed to be approached “with caution”, it was<br />

asserted that there was “a universal tradition <strong>in</strong> all cultures, of pay<strong>in</strong>g tribute to leaders”.<br />

“Monuments to leaders” were thus encouraged: 118<br />

<strong>The</strong>re are those role models who through their foresight,<br />

courage <strong>and</strong> material sacrifice, articulated, reflected <strong>and</strong><br />

shaped popular consciousness. <strong>The</strong>y <strong>in</strong>spired thous<strong>and</strong>s of<br />

people to offer their own lives <strong>in</strong> the cause of a better life for<br />

all. By their nature, popular leaders represent a mass<br />

constituency, <strong>and</strong> become symbols of <strong>in</strong>spiration far beyond<br />

their borders. 119<br />

<strong>The</strong> Legacy Project programme thus emphasised the life stories of leaders <strong>and</strong> their<br />

“contribution” to “our legacy of democracy”. 120<br />

Commemoration sites <strong>and</strong> plaques would honour “great patriots” who “achieved honour<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st tremendous odds”. <strong>The</strong>ir homes <strong>and</strong> “other significant sites associated with them”<br />

needed to be officially marked <strong>and</strong> “special, public ceremonies” were envisaged. A<br />

cenotaph “for martyrs who fell <strong>in</strong> the armed struggle” <strong>and</strong> a cultural map of war graves<br />

were proposed. <strong>The</strong> life histories of “literary ancestors”, it was felt, could be celebrated<br />

through a programme of “dedicat<strong>in</strong>g libraries”. In a broad‐rang<strong>in</strong>g proposal, a Freedom<br />

Park was proposed which suggested the development of a “dynamic multi‐dimensional<br />

commemoration” aimed at tell<strong>in</strong>g the history of <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong> from pre‐colonial times up<br />

117 ‘<strong>The</strong> Portfolio of Legacy Projects’.<br />

118 ‘Legacy Project Discussion Document’, DACST, n.d. (c. 1997/8).<br />

119 ‘Legacy Project Discussion Document’.<br />

120 ‘<strong>The</strong> Portfolio of Legacy Projects’.<br />

231

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