About the UDF Virtual Exhibition
To mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of the United Democratic Front (UDF), the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the South African History Archive (SAHA) have developed this virtual exhibition, using archival materials to explore the vital role the UDF played in bringing democracy to South Africa.
The UDF was launched in 1983 during the height of apartheid, uniting hundreds of organisations and thousands of people. This ushered in a period of grassroots campaigns for a better life for all South Africans, and severe repression by the apartheid state with detentions, trials, bannings and killings. By showcasing posters and photographs from the UDF era, primarily drawn from archival collections housed at SAHA, this exhibition serves as a graphic reminder of our recent past, and an inspiration that change is possible even under the most difficult conditions.
This exhibition is far from comprehensive. In fact, there are generally notable gaps in documentation relating to the UDF’s history, particularly from Natal and the Northern Transvaal. These gaps highlight the severe repression, the uncertainty, the escalation of violence that marked this period in South African history and restricted the process of record creation and preservation within the UDF.
It is hoped that this virtual exhibition will expand over time, identifying and incorporating more archival artefacts from SAHA and other archives to offer a more complete telling of this period in South African history. If you know of materials or collections that would complement this exhibition or if you would like more information about this project, please contact SAHA.