Exhibition conveys how Midlands violence in the ‘80s and ’90s affected the women

Ordinary people should be given a platform to express themselves on how they were affected by the violence as this helps in fostering the healing in communities.

In addition to this, community structures and government should work jointly to help in the healing process, according to Phumelele Nzimande, a guest speaker at the opening of Amazwi Omame - In Our Own Voices exhibition at the KwaZulu-Natal Museum in Pietermaritzburg this week.

The exhibition, a compilation of stories documented in five books five-book, cover the experiences of women from different parts of Pietermaritzburg including Imbali and Edendale on how they were affected by violence that tore families and communities apart during the 1980s and 1990s.

“What is important here is hearing voices of ordinary women telling their stories and experiences as opposed to something that is told by another person,” said Nzimande.

The exhibition is open to the public and some pupils have already attended it.

Nzimande said the exhibition gave young people an opportunity to understand what the past had been like and the need to appreciate the living conditions under a democratic government unlike their parents who had lived under apartheid.

“Appreciating the new dispensation starts with little things such as avoiding littering of the environment in which you live,” she said.

Thobekile Maphumulo whose husband-inkosi Mhlabunzima Maphumulo was killed during the violence described the exhibition as an emotional moment for her.

“It reminds me of that terrible moment when my worst fears were realised at the news of his killing and the impact that it has had in my life. But also seeing these photos and the other women featured here illustrates how as women we suffered during this period,”she said.

Maphumulo, who is also former mayor of uMgungudlovu District Municipality said that the violence had affected many families pointing out how many youngsters could have turned out differently if their fathers and other family members had not been killed during the violence.

Maphumulo was hopeful that the exhibition will provide a chance for healing for the many women who were affected by violence.

Jabu Bhengu who, along with Mabongi Mtshali and Fiona Bulman worked on Amazwi Omama for two years, said it was fulfilling and heart warming to see the project come to fruition.

“My hope in all of this is that there are lessons learnt, chief among them being that conflict and violence does not solve anything,” she said.

Bhengu hoped that schools would organise tours for learners to attend the exhibition so that they fully understood their past and learn from it.

For more information email info@nmsa.org.za