Finding Common Ground in the Commonwealth

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 23, 2010) −A country of storied history, with a convergence of race and culture that the world continues to watch...a country most newly showcased as the triumphant host to the 19th World Cup − South Africa is coming to the University of Kentucky.

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UK's College of Arts and Sciences is embarking on an intellectual journey of international proportion this year with featured South African activists, scholars, politicians, art exhibits, performances and coursework. The South African Initiative (SAI), with the theme of "South Africa & Kentucky: Different Lands, Common Ground," will provide the campus community as well as the general public with a closer look at the two societies’ rich histories and present-day conditions.

"South Africa has undergone the largest and most recent revolution in our times," said Mark Kornbluh, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "The country has a totally new system of power, a new constitution and all of this took place only 15 years ago. We get to personally experience greatness on the UK campus through the visit of South Africa’s founding fathers and mothers."

Kornbluh has been involved with South Africa for quite some time, traveling to the country for 10 consecutive years to gather oral histories from the major participants in the anti-apartheid struggle. The dean's efforts culminated in the website "South Africa: Overcoming Apartheid, Building Democracy," a multimedia project including first-hand accounts of South African activists, raw video footage documenting mass resistance and police repression, historical documents, rare photographs and original narratives.

Kornbluh made many friends in South Africa along the way, which greatly helped in spearheading UK's "South Africa & Kentucky" efforts, and the initiative offers a myriad of ways for students, faculty, staff, alumni and Commonwealth residents to participate .

The College of Arts and Sciences will launch the South African Initiative with one of the first national, public screenings of “Have You Heard from Johannesburg,” a new seven-part documentary film on the global anti-apartheid movement by Academy-Award winning filmmaker Connie Field. Two weekly showings will be offered at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. each Thursday over the seven-week period of Sept. 30-Nov. 11, in Room 213, Kastle Hall. Each showing will be accompanied by special speakers. Kornbluh will speak after both showings of the first film about the connections between the South African anti-apartheid movement and the United States’ civil rights movement.

"There are more likenesses between the two regions than many people realize," said Program Director Lauren Kientz. "You can look at sports and race; both regions rely economically on mining; and both areas have similar poverty and health issues."

Paralleling the film, Kientz will teach a two-credit experiential learning course, A&S 100-049, which is open to all UK students, from Sept. 23-Dec 7.

Eddie Daniels, South African freedom fighter and former prison mate of Nelson Mandela, will be a scholar-in-residence Oct. 24-Nov. 7. His visit will include a book signing, visits to local K-12 schools and UK classes.

In mid-April, UK will welcome Ahmed Kathrada and Barbara Hogan to campus as honored guests. Kathrada (Kathy) was one of 10 (including Mandela) involved in the Rivonia Trial, which led to life imprisonment with hard labor. Kathrada spent more than 26 years in prison, until he was released in 1989. Kathrada held various roles in the new South African government, including Parliament and President Mandela's parliamentary counselor. He also served as chairperson of the Robben Island Museum Council.

Hogan is the minister of public enterprise and former minister of health of South Africa. The former political activist in the anti-apartheid movement is most well known for leading South African efforts to fight AIDS and advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention. In 2009, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Other visitors and scholars-in-residence during the SAI include "Letters from Robben Island" editor Bob Vassen; leading South African historian and sports figure Andre Odendaal; and recently appointed chairperson of South Africa's Social Housing Regulatory Authority, Zohra Ebrahim.

With all of the supplementary activities being offered on campus, A&S will award a Program in International Understanding for undergraduate students. Students who attend 10 of the South African and Kentucky activities will receive a certificate for their resume and be eligible for a scholarship for the education abroad trip to Cape Town in Summer 2011.

"The ability of students to engage globally is attractive to employers," said Kientz. "And there's something in this program of events for everyone—scientists, politicians, teachers, businessmen and women, miners, parents and church members."

A&S plans to have an international theme each year going forward, with politically and culturally-relevant speakers and activities. "This is a tremendous opportunity for Kentucky," Kornbluh said. "We're going to be a part of the international conversation."

For more information on the South Africa Initiative, please contact Kientz at llki222@uky.edu, or visit http://southafricakentucky.wordpress.com/. The main website will launch during the week of Sept. 26: www.southafrica.as.uky.edu.