It is important for South Africans to discuss the meaning of human rights so that they can ignite change and honor the legacy of those who fought for the country’s freedom.
This is according to members of the first-ever Inzululwazi Human Rights Day panel discussion, centered around justice, equality, and dignity.
The panel discussion was held at the Amazink Live, South Africa’s first township theatre and restaurant in Kayamandi on 21 March. SMF News was in attendance.
The panel featured multidisciplinary artist Lwandiso Botozo, trauma awareness activist Phinius Sebatsane, poet Genevieve Tyemela, trauma professional Khuthala Tswane Mtshali, and human rights lawyer Asavela Tyemela.
Usisipho Ngxubaza (far right), the organiser of the Inzululwazi panel discussion, sitting alongside the panelists of the Human Rights Day event held in Kayamandi on 21 March. From left to right: Khuthala Tswane Mtshali, Genevieve Tyemela, Phinius Sebatsane, Lwandiso Botozo, and Asavela Tyemela. PHOTO: Kuhle Tshabalala
Panelists discussed the importance of South Africans, especially the younger generation, talking about human rights and the significance of Human Rights Day.
“There aren’t many discussions about these things, other than them being political,” said Usisipho Ngxubaza, organiser of the panel discussion. “It is important for us to know, firstly, why we celebrate these days [and] why they are […] made a public holiday.”
The meaning of Inzululwazi
Inzululwazi refers to the seeking of deep knowledge or information that is not easily accessible. The word comes from the Xhosa words ‘inzulu,’ meaning deep, and ‘lwazi,’ meaning knowledge.
This is according to Tyemela, who is also a lawyer. She said that people need to commemorate Human Rights Day by reflecting, to retain its meaning, instead of accepting things on face value.
Panelists discussed the importance of celebrating Human Rights Day during the Inzululwazi Human Rights Day panel discussion in Kayamandi. The event included an art exhibition, poetry, and music performances to commemorate the day. SMF News was in attendance. PHOTO: Kuhle Tshabalala
Botozo said that Human Rights Day is not just a public holiday, but a time to reflect. To commemorate the day, one should spark conversations about understanding South Africa’s past, present, and future, he said.
Using art to start the conversation
“I first hope to get to a point where there’s more people who understand visual literacy,” said Botozo, who has a Masters in Visual Arts from Stellenbosch University (SU). “I hope my art can spark the conversation of going back to learning about our history, our current state, and then [figuring out] where we are going further from this point”.
The Inzululwazi panel discussion inspired many young people to attend the event, said Okuhle Gomba, an attendee at the event. She said that the discussion gave them the opportunity to find out what human rights means to their generation, and whether these rights have been achieved by those who fought for them in the past.
Okuhle Gomba, an attendee at the Inzululwazi Human Rights Day event in Kayamandi recently, posing questions to the panelists. PHOTO: Kuhle Tshabalala
“The educational system does not touch on what really happened during Apartheid, [but] focuses on the leaders [like] Mandela, Steve Biko, and [everyone] who fought for us. But what does that mean for the individuals that lived during that time?” said Gomba. “Do they now see the fruits of what they were fighting for?”