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South African Embassy Celebrated Freedom Day

The South African Embassy in Berlin celebrated its national day on the 27th of April

May 20th, 2016
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The Freedom Day on the 27th of April is the South African National Day. It celebrates the first non-racial democratic elections of 1994, which was a very important step forward for this country who’s history was marked by the apartheid from 1948 to 1994. Indeed, the 27th of April 1994 marked the end of over three hundred years of colonialism, segregation and white minority rule and the establishment of a new democratic government led by Nelson Mandela. This National Day was widely celebrated in South Africa and by the South African diaspora all around the world.

The South African Embassy in Berlin made no exception as the Embassy hosted an event gathering the Vulingoma youth choir from Cape Town, hip-hop artist Yugen Blackrock and Mr Thusi’s band. The event was also the occasion for the Ambassador, H. E. Amb. Horst Brammer, to provide the audience with a celebration speech.

During his speech, he said that this year’s National Day was particularly important as it also marks several important anniversaries such as the 40th anniversary of the June 16, 1976 student uprisings in Soweto that was the starting point of the fight against apartheid that led the country to freedom, 60 years since the women’s march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to demand the end of the « pass laws », that required South Africans defined as "black" under The Population Registration Act to carry an internal passport, as well as the 20th anniversary of the  enactment of the Constitution of the Republic.

The audience also had the opportunity to hear a keynote speech from the State Secretary of the Federal Foreign Office, the Hon. Ms. Maria Böhmer, who highlighted the good bilateral relations between South Africa and Germany.

The event was then concluded by a sharing of typical South African food, wine and music between all the participants. Overall, this was a day to celebrate South African’s success in moving towards democracy, equality and to celebrate their culture and that is exactly what the South African Embassy did.

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News from Berlin
Pierre Even, Berlin Global