Don’t miss the Phakama Africa #BlackExcellence Webinar.
Theme: We come from African Black Excellence – Our Humanity and Boldness
A campaign to celebrate and reset our collective mindset back to UBUNTU, while highlighting the legacy of great South Africans and to make known the stories of their lives; it is intended to inspire generations with the title of a hymn written by Charlotte Maxeke: Phakama Africa / Africa Arise!
The first chapter of the Phakama Afrika campaign purposefully focusses on Charlotte Mannya Maxeke. Subsequent chapters will focus on other equally great South Africans, whose legacy deserves to be made known given their significant impact in the history of our country.
First among them is Charlotte Mannya Maxeke who was a peaceful warrior, a pioneer and a legend. Her life deserves to be brought onto the world stage and celebrated by South African and global citizens alike, for her exceptional contribution to the struggle for women’s and workers’ rights, and her lifelong dedication to the struggle for peace, justice and equality.
Living during the latter part of the 18th and the early 19th century, she lived an exceptional life for her times and travelled to the UK on tour with a choir and also travelled the USA where she studied at Wilberforce University, Ohio. There she a student of the pan-Africanist, WEB Dubois. On graduating Maxeke became first black South African woman to hold a university degree, at a time when only a handful of white women were admitted for study in US universities, and no higher education facility would have given her permission to study in the country of her birth.
Maxeke was an individual whose every action was expressive of her extraordinary intellect, determination, courage, principles and love of God. Yet because of her gender, sadly, her name has largely been overlooked in the history of South Africa.
Charlotte Maxeke’s legacy remains relevant and inspirational to the people of South Africa and people across the world. We would like to invite you to join our efforts in celebrating the exceptional legacy of a woman who was ahead of her time, and whose life exemplifies universal values that remain relevant to this, as well as future generations.
Register for the webinar.
