Freedom Park

Perched on Salvo Kop, one of the series of small hills which surround the city of Pretoria, is one of South Africa's newest and most interesting heritage sites. Freedom Park celebrates and encourages the reconciliation of the various different South African communities, and commemorates the South African dead in 8 major conflicts that shaped South African history. It seeks a more inclusive heritage, wanting to reconcile and unite all South Africans rather than celebrate only one particular culture. Still a work in progress, completion is scheduled for 2009. Freedom Park first opened its gates to the public late in 2007, and there is at present no charge for visiting this facility.

Freedom Park has been a striking addition to the Tshwane landscape; entering the the Tshwane metropole area from the R21 highway, the graceful spiral of symbolic reeds which are at the summit of Freedom Park dominate the skyline. The park also provides an interesting visual counterpoint to the Voortrekker Monument, that Afrikaner nationalist icon, on the one hand; and the University of South Africa (Unisa) building, which juts out from the adjoining hill, on the other.

The Voortrekker Monument Freedom Park
















A visit to Freedom Park has been conceived as a journey (on foot, or by golf cart for those who have difficulty walking) which starts with an explanation of the purpose of the park, and a viewing of the eternal flame.


Next is the amphitheatre.

Built into the summit of the hill, the amphitheatre is a venue which can accomodate gatherings of up to 2000 people. One such gathering was held on 19 October 2008, when the Thai Dhammakaya Foundation and Johannesburg Meditation Centre held a traditional Thai Buddhist Kathina Robe Offering there, followed by a spectacular sky lantern ceremony as part of the Peace for Africa movement.

Pictures of the Kathina Robe Offering and sky lantern ceremonies




African symbolism is used throughout Freedom Park. The tall poles surrounding the amphitheatre are symbolic reeds, and the various parts of the park have been given African names. The first part of the park comprising the Wall of Names, amphitheatre, sanctuary (the building near the eternal flame where one can conduct a ceremony or light a candle of remembrance), Gallery of leaders (one of the parts not yet finished) and a high level hospitality suite is called Sikhumbuto, a siSwati word signifying a place of remembrance where the assistance of those who have passed on can be invoked for current and future affairs.

A wild olive tree, was planted by Thabo Mbeki as a symbol of peace at the back of the amphitheatre. The next stop in the Freedom Park journey is the Wall of Names.

The wall of names
Here the names of those who died in the Freedom Struggle, the South African war, the world wars and various other catastrophes in which South Africans have been involved have been carved into a wall so that they will be remembered. It is no coincidence that this wall and other elements are on the top of a hill; a hilltop is the traditional burial site of African chiefs.


As you continue of your walk around the hill, through proteas growing wild, on the way to the symbolic burial grave which is the centre of the park, there is a stopping place next to a pool for reflection, rest and meditation. This provides a break on your journey.

Then one continues on to Isivivane, the symbolic burial site or Lesaka, where you are asked to take off your shoes. The site is shrouded in mist, and religious leaders from various faiths have performed ceremonies here in an attempt to provide closure for conflicts in the past, and help future reconciliation. Photos here are not allowed.

Also planned, but not yet on offer, is a large museum.

Freedom Park is an innovation in South African heritage and is well worth a visit. It is a monument to hope for South Africans and gives tourists an insight into post apartheid South Africa.

Entrance to the park at present is free; but you should contact the park at +27 12 4707400 before visiting, as you are only allowed in at tour times. Tours are currently run daily at 9h00, 12h00 and 15h00. A map and more information can be found at the park website.

Labels: Freedom Park, heritage, Johannesburg Meditation Centre, Kathina robe offering, peace for Africa, post apartheid, reconciliation, Salvo Kop, sky lanterns, Thai Buddhism

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Post-apartheid heritage sites

In the past month, I've come into contact with two heritage sites which have been created in post-Apartheid South Africa. First, I attended a talk at Pretoria University on Maropeng, which was constructed as a gateway to the Cradle of Humankind and Sterkfontein caves (a world heritage site). I visited Maropeng shortly after it opened (December 2005), but until this month, have never visited Freedom Park. I fixed this a couple of weeks ago when I spent an enjoyable morning exploring this new bit of South African heritage (opened late 2007 for the first time) with two friends, one from Germany and one from Ghana.

We so desperately need places that celebrate the rich diversity and complexity of South Africa's past and culture. Although Pretoria has many museums and historic buildings, most of them are linked to a particular culture or person, and visitors to them are passive spectators. Both Maropeng and Freedom Park move away from this, and make visits into something more of an interactive experience (see next two posts) which for me brought up all sorts of questions about heritage and the links between past and future.

Maropeng
With both sites the interaction between the natural landscape and the constructions on it are striking and aesthetically pleasing; the interaction in itself making a subtle statement. At Maropeng you become very aware that you are part of an ancient landscape; and the juxtaposition of the swirling organic design of Freedom Park with the rigid lines of the Voortrekker Monument are a striking contrast of which you are aware throughout your visit.


Freedom Park
I could not help feeling a slight sense of disappointment at both sites though that there was something lacking, but that is possibly just my repeated exposure to a more traditional museum experiences; at Maropeng I wanted to see the actual Mrs Ples (or something similar) and at Freedom Park visit a real, rather than symbolic grave. Freedom Park is not yet complete, it is a work in progress, and my feeling of hollowness may disappear once the museum planned for the premises is finished, and once its amphitheatre is used regularly for gatherings; my only visit to Maropeng was also before the boutique hotel there was finished. Part of the attraction of both sites is that not only are they are heritage sites, both are also public venues; and as such need to be visited when they are fully functional. More detail on each site in the next 2 posts.

Labels: Freedom Park, heritage, Maropeng, South Afric

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