Freedom Park Information

One of the 11 Presidential Legacy Projects, Freedom Park was launched on 01 June 2000 as a response to the need identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for symbolic reparation of past conflicts in the history of South Africa. It is the product of the many processes engaged in by Government since 1994 to create and foster a new national consciousness of the common legacy that binds the people of South Africa. Freedom Park tells a story that helps us to understand the present that is embedded in our past and acts as an embodiment of South Africa's aspirations for its future. //hapo – an interactive exhibition space - will explore the rich and colourful history of the southern tip of Africa in narrative and visual form within a historical context spanning 3.6 billion years. Exhibitions will be structured around social spaces that allow for live interpretation, performance and storytelling. Many will include a selection of cultural or historical objects that can be handled or discussed. Visitors will also be invited to add to the pool of knowledge in the form of a narrative, images or video, engaging in performance, fashioning cultural objects or in other forms of mediated group activity. This is intended at transforming the visitor from a mere spectator to an active participant. Through the promotion of indigenous knowledge, //hapo aims to emphasise the creativity, inventiveness, resilience and spirit of our people, thereby emancipating the African voice.