Here lie the stories of more than 60,000 citizens – many women and mothers – who lived and loved in District Six before it was claimed a white area in 1966 and they were forcibly removed. A programme here called Huis Kombuis (Home Kitchen) involves a group of women previously from District Six who share memories, design, create and sell ‘kitchen’ crafts. They have also produced a cookbook. The museum provides a glimpse into this once vibrant community and keeps its memories alive. Director Bonita Bennett, has her own experiences of the area to draw on. Amongst the women celebrated is Lydia Williams (1820-1910). A freed slave, she opened her home in Chapel St to others in need of learning, laughing and support. She became a symbol of hope and emancipation.
