The District Six Museum is definitely one of the must-sees in Cape Town. If you live in Cape Town or visit it one or more times, a visit of at least an hour is essential.The museum tells the story of the famous community of 60 000 people who lived on the edge of the central city and who were forcibly removed to the Cape Flats as a result of Apartheid’s Group Areas Act.
The removals impacted severely on the growth of the central city and on the health of the city as a whole. The museum situates this story in the broader story of forced removals. Put together by artists, community activists and educators, the museum is an award-winning and internationally lauded space which initially catered for (and was heavily supported) by the ex-community of District Six.
Now more than 40 000 people visit it annually, many of them tourists who use it as a launching pad to understand the broader city.
The D6 Museum turns 15 this month and in celebration it will host a range of activities at its second space, The Homecoming Centre (former Sacks Futeran building) on 15 Buitenkant Street from 12h00 – 14h00 on 10 December. A birthday concert on 11 December starts at 19h00 and features a brilliant quartet that includes pianist Andre Peterson, bassist Chantal Willie, award winning drummer Kesivan Naidoo and saxophone legend Robbie Jansen. Tickets cost R80 but there is a 50% discount if you become a member of the museum’s Seven Steps loyalty club.
Tickets are presold or available at the door. Follow the District Six Museum on Facebook.
Ana
January 28th, 2010
I agree the District Six Museum cant be missed! Great post. Keep up the good work.