adminGibson Mhaka
THE Museum of African Liberation stand is a must visit at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) as it hosts a mobile museum which houses materials with information about all African countries which waged armed struggles in order to liberate themselves.
Of particular interest which is also an additional feature at the stand is a stool that was used by the late veteran nationalist and one of Zimbabwe’s founding fathers, Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo while he was writing books and records capturing the protracted liberation struggle waged by gallant sons and daughters, some of whom lost their lives in the process.
The Museum of African Liberation which is one of the most ambitious projects by a pan-African think tank – Institute of African Knowledge (INSTAK) contains everything about the liberation of Zimbabwe and other African countries and also the history of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF).
In an interview INSTAK, (administrators of the museum) marketing and public relations manager Joseph Nkani said their stand was a must visit especially by the youths who were born after independence as they do not have a clear understanding of the history of Zimbabwe and other African countries.
“We are happy to be part of ZITF and this is our second time participating at this annual showcase. We are here to bring the museum to the people and our view is that if people can’t come to the museum let’s take the museum to the people.
“So we have brought us here our mobile truck which essentially has digital content. We have created content on digital format telling the public about various topics that affect Africa and Africans.
“When you come through here at our mobile museum you will be able to see videos or read texts about different topics from all African countries which waged armed struggles in order to liberate themselves,” said Nkani.
As an example there is a presentation on the slave trade, reason why Europe colonised Africa, why liberation wars were concentrated largely on the Southern part of Africa and there is also an interesting video presentation about, ‘is black skin colour a disadvantage’.
“We also talk about inventions that were created by Black people under slavery so all those different videos and texts are packaged together for the public to come through and enjoy and learn about Africa.
“An additional feature that we have is the stool that was used by our late nationalist and former vice president Dr Joshua Mquabuko Nyongolo Nkomo. There is a chair, an artefact which is a chair which he used to sit on while he was writing books or records capturing the liberation struggle.
“So it is an opportunity for the public to come through and see and take pictures while enjoying the luxury of the chair that the late vice president used to sit on during his lifetime,” said Nkani.
He adds: “We also had an additional feature where we are bringing what we are calling the Africa Factbook which is a publication which tells the African story from the African perspective.
“All the 55 African countries have a number of pages in that book where they talk about themselves and demystify certain myths that have been presented about Africa and Africans.
“So every country will have a number of pages in that book and the copy is going for a nominal fee of US$50. So we promise people a very lovely time when they come to our stand”.
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