Programme director
Judge Joseph Raulinga
Professor Rudo Mathivha
Acting Head of the National Archives, Ms Mandy Gilder
International and National archivists
Distinguished guests
Vhashavhi! Vhalemba! Black Jews
Learners
Ladies and gentlemen
Ndi matsheloni!
A dark cloud has befallen South Africa. Yesterday, our nation woke up to the sad news of the passing on of one of the pioneers of the democratic South Africa, ANC stalwart, Isithwalandwe, comrade Ruth Mompati.
She dedicated her entire life to the liberation struggle and the betterment of the lives of our people.
Comrade Ruth Mompati was amongst the fearless leaders who marched to the Union Building during the Women’s March in 1956.
Mme Mompati and myself were part of the group of women who joined the first democratic parliament in 1994. I remember vividly how we served the parliament diligently ensuring that South Africa become a better place to live in.
This past weekend, we also learnt of the tragic passing on of Limpopo born talented gospel artist, Mpho Regalo Gangashe. He passed away in a car accident with his mother.
Mpho Regalo as he was affectionately known by his fans, friends and peers in the music fraternity, participated in church functions as far as music was concerned, playing keyboard or singing.
In 2011, he recorded his debut album entitled “Testimony” produced by Taki “The Psalmist” Ndou. In 2013 he teamed up with some of his friends to establish their own production company called Holy Sounds. Still on that year he recorded his latest Live CD/DVD entitled “I am a winner”.
He has shared the stage with many artists, to mention but a few, Taki and Rofhiwa, Sfiso Ncwane, Sipho Makhabane, Lufuno Dagada, Keke and many others.
May I request that we all rise to observe a moment of silence.
May their Souls Rest in Peace.
Earlier this week, we launched the National Archives Week as part of the Africa Month themed “We are Africa – Opening the doors of learning and culture to promote peace and friendship from Cape to Cairo”.
This Africa Month festival of ideas and cultural exchanges is a month long celebration of the power of arts and culture to build a humane, united, peaceful and prosperous African continent.
This Lemba Panel Discussion equally forms part of the activities of National Archives Week. The theme for Archives Week is “Archives our Living Past”.
The archives week is intended to promote prominence to archival services and highlight career paths available within the profession. The campaign came after a decision was taken by International Council on Archives’ (ICA) conference that countries should popularise the profession and educate communities around the importance of archives in the preservation of societal memory.
The importance of Archives is still not known by most people, especially in developing countries. Archivists have a challenge in ensuring that the public is educated and involved in Archival issues. Although there are marketing activities that the public archives have been involved in, more needs to be done by these institutions.
Our gathering here today is to discuss about the Lemba people. Who are these people? Where do they come from? How do we identify them? These are some of the things that would be discussed by our panel.
Limpopo Province is also home to patriots whose ancestry is Jewish, the Lemba Jews. Amongst us are scholars who will unpack the story of the black Jews and give insights around issues relating to their migrations.
I am told that the National Film Video and Sound Archives, which is a component of the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa (NARSSA), also did an oral history project involving the Lemba people, of which I’m one.
I would like to declare this panel discussion officially open.
I thank you.
