Freedom Park, the historic monument outside Pretoria, is inviting people from all walks of life to join the Walk for an Ubuntu Conscious South Africa, which is scheduled for Sunday, 29 September 2013 at the Park. The event, being the highlight of national Heritage Month, is held in honour of former president Nelson Mandela and in recognition of his legacy.
Freedom Park CEO Fana Jiyane says it is Mr Mandela’s exemplary leadership, great statesmanship and moral force that continue to inspire South Africans as they try to build a cohesive nation.
“As we prepare to celebrate our two decades of freedom, we must never forget that 20 years ago, South Africans were staring into a future marred by permanent civil strife which would have reduced our country to ashes and caused a great deal of suffering. It was the wisdom of leaders like Mr Mandela, underpinned by the values of Ubuntu, which enabled us to walk away from the precipice of a destructive war and to choose instead the path of reconciliation and peace,” Jiyane says.
Mr Jiyane says Ubuntu is part of Africa’s living heritage and the event is about reclaiming, restoring and celebrating this marvelous heritage. “South Africans suffer from a deep sense of woundedness and brokenness as a result of an unresolved painful past and disillusionment with the present. The event will bring hope and restoration by reminding us that we have the capacity to create a flourishing society founded on concern for the other, respect for the dignity of the human person, and the values of caring, kindness, honesty, compassion and love.”
The walk aims to promote consciousness about Ubuntu. It will include a 3 km public walk led by the Khoisan community passing on the uBuntu torch to youth leaders. There will be an official presentation, facilitated by former Manchester united goalkeeper and TV sport presenter Gary Bailey, which will include interfaith prayers, praise singing and cultural performances by all the diverse groups in the country. Popular artists Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Vicky Sampson will be among those providing live entertainment.
“Participants will write and draw uBuntu messages and symbols on a wide cloth canvass and hang uBuntu slogans on specially procured indigenous trees which will be planted in the park’s Garden of Remembrance. Participants will also read an uBuntu declaration commiting themselves to living uBuntu values. A framed copy of the uBuntu Vision will be handed over to a representatives of Mr Mandela, the KhoiSan community and Freedom Park, as well as male and female youth-leaders,” Jiyane says.
The event starts with a walk at 08h00 on Sunday morning. The official programme is scheduled to end 14h00, but entertainment will continue afterwards. Entry to the event and the park will be free of charge. Participants are advised to dress in casual or sportswear, and to bring chairs, picnic baskets, sunscreen and umbrellas for a family day of fun.
