The student movements over the course of the last few years have shaken the South African establishment. The state and university administrations have been shocked into trying to transform spaces and access for black students.
One of the first major indications of this radical shift was the action by students to remove the statue of Cecil John Rhodes at the University of Cape Town. The movement soon became a call for Rhodes to “fall” which arguably represented calls for the structures of power and privilege built since the colonial period to drastically change to represent the majority and diversity of the country. The notion of “falling” soon became a clarion call for many students across the country.
Many students have made sense of their experience through the concept of “Fallism”. Though in its philosophical infancy, Fallism has come to represent the rejection of “white supremacy” and the acceptance and promotion of “black humanity”.
In other words the students seek to bring down much of the institutions and cultures associated with colonialism and European culture, and replace it with people centred institutions and cultures derived from traditional ways of living.
Yet the philosophy has been criticised for a supposed acceptance of violence and a misguided understanding of history and racism. Despite these criticisms, the movement has developed philosophically and intellectually and there is a need to understand this growing movement more broadly.
With this in mind, and to close off Youth Month, the Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) and the Steve Biko Foundation (SBF) will host a discussion made up of three sessions to interrogate concepts related to the movement and to critically analyse the validity of Fallism as a doctrine. The two Foundations will seek to be impartial convenors, bringing varied viewpoints into the discussion.
Speakers confirmed for the event include
- Jay Naidoo
- Victoria Buthelezi
- Prof Daryl Glaser
- Angelo Fick
- Azra Karim
- Mzwandile Zazi
- Chumani Maxwele
- Elisha Kunene
You are invited to cover this dialogue:
Venue: Nelson Mandela Foundation, 107 Central Street, Houghton
Date: 28 June 2016
Time: 10h00 – 15h00