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Standing on Their Shoulders, UK Premier, Africa in Motion Film Festival

Thursday 1 November 2018 /  6pm

Free and ticketed Glasgow Women’s Library  Book Now

Celebrated South African filmmaker Xoliswa Sithole takes us on a historical journey through time in this award-winning documentary that

connects female resistance movements in South Africa. The starting point of the documentary is 9 August 1956, which marks the day that 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria in protest again the dehumanising apartheid law that required all Africans to carry a pass. “You have touched a woman, you have struck a rock,” they chanted, a mantra which has continued to stand as testimony to the resilience of many remarkable South African female activists, including Albertina Sisulu, Lilian Ngoyi and Helen Joseph.

From the female resistance movements of the 1950s, the documentary takes us up to the end of apartheid, reminding us of the unwavering strength and courage of Winnie Madikizela Mandela and other women from the ANC, and into the contemporary era with the continued struggles against patriarchy fought through the ‘fallist’ movements of Rhodes Must Fall and Fees Must Fall. While women’s voices in political movements are often silenced and marginalised, the film gives a powerful platform to feminist activists, scholars, students and political leaders, to highlight the work that women continue to do in fighting patriarchy, race and class oppression.

In Glasgow the screening will be preceded by a short performance inspired by female resistance movements in South Africa. It will be followed by a discussion with South African activist, Firdoze Bulbulia. 

This event is held in partnership with the Centre of African Studies and Africa Week at the University of Edinburgh, and Take One Action Film Festival.

Further information Africa in Motion in Scotland 26 October – 4 November, 2018

www.africa-in-motion.org.uk

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