In Slavery’s Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World, the new international Smithsonian exhibition at the IZIKO South African National Gallery, is covered by Phumzile Zonke, Director of Advancement at IZIKO Museums.
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Phumzile Zonke explains the importance of this collaboration between the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NAMAC) and IZIKO Museums. In Slavery’s Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World is a project about healing and resistance that has been in the works for years. This global exhibition has already traveled from the USA to Brazil and it’s third stop is Cape Town.
It is impressive in both beauty and grandeur, but of most importance is the story it is telling. It enables us to to reflect on and have conversations about slavery – how it was in the past, now, and how it affects the future. In Slavery’s Wake heightens the dignity of humanity and how continuously we need to engage with the stories and open the dialogue for South Africa as a whole.
The collaboration between the curators of the IZIKO Slave Lodge and those of the Smithsonian NAMAC is important, as it has given this global exhibition from America a South African relevance with a uniquely IZIKO presence. The Slave Lodge curators are Shanaaz Galant and Paul Tichman, and NAMAC curators Johanna Obenda and Paul Gardulla. This ensured the gravitas of the exhibition, while ensuring it touches on all aspects of our lives.
The presentation itself is an artwork befitting its presence in the National Gallery! The reimaging was impressive. One example – while anticipating that artists would be feature, it is a surprise to see recording artists featured.
The combination of looking at history and how we tell these stories, not only from an art point of view, but also looking at the activists’ perspective to ensure authenticity is important. How do we humanise these stories. Slaves were seen as objects or as numbers – they were objectified.
Complements are extended to IZIKO Museums for the brave stand they are taking to help us rethink, reimagine, and relook our colonial history. The Steven Cohen exhibition Long Life that ends at the end of June is another controversial relook of the Apartheid era using obscenity to make its point. It’s certainly acts of advancement by IZIKO to make us relook who we are and where we have come from. Thanks you Phumzile Zonke, Director of Advancement.
WHAT: In Slavery’s Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World
WHERE: Iziko South African National Gallery, Government Ave, Company’s Garden, Cape Town 8001
WHEN: 22 May to 31 October 2026
INFO: VISIT | See also IZIKO South African National Gallery – In Slavery’s Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World
IZIKO SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL GALLERY [A]
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