Journey from Separation

June 2, 2013

Something we've talked about doing since we arrived is visiting the Apartheid museum. Every guide book and every local is quick to put this on the top of everyone's must-do list for Joburg. The reason for the delay had nothing to do with not wanting to go, and everything to do with the fact that M and I find it very difficult to justify going inside a museum when it is gorgeous outside. I said this to someone shortly after we arrived, and they very accurately pointed out that there is no need to ration the sunny days here, since there is no shortage of them. While not fully being able to trust this just yet, having been here less than three months, we waited until one of S's last weekends in the city before finally making a point to go, regardless of the weather. As it turns out, there is a considerable portion of the museum that is actually outside. Go figure.

The museum has 22 exhibit areas that create a dramatic picture of the story of the state-sanctioned racial discrimination that ruled South Africa up until 1994, and the struggle to overcome it (and the journey to continue to do so).

When we visited the museum there was a temporary exhibit paying tribute to Nelson Mandela and showcasing the story of his life. Mandela has been centre stage in South Africa's struggle against apartheid over the last 70+ years and served as the first president of South Africa as a democracy. There is no doubt that the country would not be what it is today without him and his tenacity for change. 

Outdoor artwork on the museum grounds; representing a connected yet piecemeal world. So true.