November 1, 2004
By Tammy O'Reilly
A DELEGATION of priests, reverends and cardinals from across Africa was treated to a brief but poignant dose of South African history and culture, courtesy of the City of Johannesburg, on Thursday 28 October.
The men of the cloth were in town to attend a four-day conference of the Pontifical Council for Culture, in which the role of the church in preserving culture and heritage across the world was discussed.
On arrival at MuseuMAfricA in Newtown, the predominantly French-speaking group was welcomed by the distinctive beat of two drummers from Uncle Tom's Community Hall in Orlando, Soweto.
After the signing of the visitors' register, refreshments were served in the entrance area. The much-anticipated tour of the museum followed.
The delegation was divided into two groups - one led by Steven Sack, the director of arts and culture for the City; the other led by the museum's chief curator, Deon van Tonder - and was treated to an explanation of the origins and themes of each exhibition.
The Fietas exhibition, explained Sack, pictorially chronicled the story of a community displaced at the hands of the apartheid government.
Moving to an adjacent Ghanaian puppet exhibition, the visitors were taken aback by the bold colours and forms of the puppets. One could easily count more than 20 puppets, but Sack said this was only a fraction of the artist's collection.
The group was shocked by the rock-art exhibition - because most of the San paintings had been completely obstructed and destroyed by graffiti.
"This," noted the translator, Evantus Kene, "reflects the plight of the San in their battle to have their art and their heritage conserved."
The last exhibition viewed - perhaps to save the best for last - was that of the Treason Trial. Against the background of red walls are black-and-white mug shots of those who stood trial; their personal particulars are arranged beneath each photograph. Videos play and speeches bellow from hidden speakers.
"I could stay here the whole day," said Kene.
After the tour the groups converged on the celebrated Gramadoelas restaurant, which, as is its custom, had put on a truly South African feast: mopane worms, mogodu (cows' intestines) and crocodile meat were first suspiciously inspected and then devoured.
"I can assure you that many of these people here will return to their countries with extremely fond memories of the South African people and our culture," said the delegation's host, Prof Edith Saidt.
"It's an honour for the City of Johannesburg to play host to this delegation. There has been a long-standing relationship between the church and politics and art, and it's wonderful to know that the arts still play a role in giving churches recognition," said Sack.
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