History Seminar Series - The Museum, the Rabbit and National History: The Voice of Robben Island

Abstract:

In this chapter from their book "Museums Times: Changing Histories in South Africa" (Berghahn, 2022), the author considers how since 1997 Robben Island has been transformed from a prison into a museum. Examining its early years as a museum, commentators expressed enthusiasm over the integral role played by personal experiences of ex-political prisoners, particularly through the tours they conducted. Initially, their performance and narration were perceived as the foundation of a unique museum experience—a museum without walls, emphasizing lived experiences over physical structures and artifacts. However, the author also highlights warnings that these innovative museum methodologies could become overshadowed by commercial concerns and national political imperatives. Throughout the chapter, there is a discussion of the ongoing tension on Robben Island as it negotiates its museum status with its identity as a heritage and tourist site, constantly mediating the meanings and values associated with its museum claims. The author tracks these mediations, primarily bracketed by two key events: the launch of a new ferry ride from the Nelson Mandela Gateway to the island, symbolizing freedom with the use of the rabbit emblem in a promotional video, and the culling of rabbits on the island a decade later.

Bionote:

Professor Leslie Witz, a seasoned scholar and esteemed former senior faculty member within the Department of Historical Studies at the University of the Western Cape, has held a tenure at the institution since 1990. Throughout his extensive academic career, Professor Witz has made significant contributions to the field through the publication of several authoritative works. Among these, notable titles include Apartheid's Festival (2003) and Unsettled History: Making South African Public Pasts (2017), authored or co-authored by him. In his latest scholarly endeavour, Museum Times (2022), Professor Witz undertakes a rigorous examination of the conceptual frameworks underpinning historical narratives within museum settings. Through meticulous analysis of object engagement and installation strategies, Witz offers critical insights into the complex dynamics of public historiography.

Poster