About the Memory Programme
Memory resources documenting the life and times of Mr Nelson Mandela are to be found in an extraordinary range of locations, both within South Africa and internationally. These resources are embedded in various legal and other jurisdictions. The Memory Programme, situated within the Centre of Memory and Dialogue, provides a unique facility which allows people access to this history.
The Memory Programme:
- Locates, documents, and ensures the preservation of these scattered resources
- Collects and curates Mr Mandela’s personal archive
- Promotes public access to these resources and fosters dialogue around them
- Ensures that all initiatives in the name of Nelson Mandela are true to his legacy
Memory is not an end in itself. Its significance lies in its use. The Dialogue Programme seeks to reach both global audiences and those systematically disadvantaged within South Africa by:
- Undertaking outreach programmes, including travelling exhibitions, books, comic series, and internships
- Ensuring web-based access to information through its web portal
- Supporting digitisation initiatives designed to broaden access to resources
- Facilitating research by individuals and institutions
We believe that the vehicle for sharing memory effectively, for growing it, and for engaging it in the promotion of justice, is dialogue. We actively open our memory work – on the life and times of Mr Nelson Mandela, the events and the people he influenced or was influenced by, to debate and discussion. And we draw on this memory work in convening dialogue on critical social issues that present a threat to justice in society.
