The great Chief Albert Luthuli once said that one must learn from yesterday, live for today and hope for tomorrow. This was the essence of the iNkosi Albert Luthuli Oral History Competition. This annual programme is a partnership between the Department of Basic Education and the Luthuli Museum aimed at reflecting on personal and community history to uncover the untold stories and rekindle the love for oral storytelling and exploration of South African history.
The programme, which took place over a two-day period, commenced on 25 August with the elimination phase taking place at the Luthuli Museum where learners competed in a research project, composing poems and writing short stories on the liberation heritage sites, heroes and heroines. The awards ceremony and community engagement took place at Groutville High School on 26 August.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education, Ms Mbali Frazer, in her speech emphasized the importance of the initiative as it helps in the decolonizing of History whilst creating a platform conducive for the practice of oral storytelling.
The awards ceremony was also graced by actors from the famous telenovela, Gqeberha: The Empire, who appear as the Makwetu Family on set. Amongst them were: Mr Anele Matoti who plays the character of Msimelelo, Ms Unati Guma who plays the character of Funeka, the on-screen wife to Msimelelo and Ms Siziphiwe Madubela, who plays the character of their daughter, Nontle. These are the South African artists who engaged with our learners on the professionalisation of storytelling and story writing.
Dr Albertinah Luthuli, daughter of the great Albert Luthuli also graced the event. Dr Luthuli shared her appreciation for the initiative as it gave people like herself, those who grew up in the Apartheid epoch, hope for a better South Africa. She further highlighted how important it is for learners to know their history as it serves, not only as a strong reference point, but also allows them to know who they truly are.
Mr Likho Bottoman, Director for Social Cohesion and Equity in Education, expressed his gratitude to all partners and stakeholders who participated in the programme, adding that, “we encourage more young South African storytellers and writers to share their stories”. The competition served as a platform for scholars across various phases to express their own thoughts, feelings and ideas on past and present historical events and incidents; moreover, it acknowledged the efforts of promising students in the realm of story-telling, and the dedication of their teachers who offer them support during this creative journey.