PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Plett is steeped in rich history dating back as far as the Stone Age and it is therefore no wonder that residents and visitors find an interest in the topic.
Come next week, 23 to 26 February, we will be able to celebrate our history under the theme "Crossing Borders" during the third Plettenberg Bay Watercourse History Festival.
The programme will kick off with a presentation on Wednesday 23 February by veteran television personality and local resident David Hall-Green. His presentation is called "Kitchener's Revenge: the Battle of Omdurman in the Sudan, 1898".
Next, well-known anthropology professor and author Mike de Jongh will discuss the Eastern Frontier legend Coenraad de Buys. He will be followed by professor DJ Culpin who will discuss French traveller and ornithologist Francois le Vaillant's travels into the interior of Africa - adapting an African travel narrative to the literary tastes of 18th century France.
His latest English translation will be launched by the Historical Publications of Southern Africa (HiPSA).
While all three presentations will be held at the Piesang Valley Community Hall, the book launch will be hosted by Le Fournil Bakery in the town centre.
Thursday will see a presentation by veteran journalist Chiara Carter who will share her experience of alternative media in the 1980s.
The time focus of the festival will then switch to the beginning of the 20th century, where Professor Howard Phillips, who has done deep research in pandemics and epidemics in South Africa, will discuss "Black October: The 'Spanish Flu' of 1918 in South Africa".
They say a picture speaks a thousand words. With this in mind, Andrew Lamprecht of the Iziko/South African National Gallery and curator of the Michaelis Collection, which covers everything before 1950, will speak about the 150th anniversary of the national gallery.
The day will end with a discussion led by former anti-apartheid activist in Sweden, Madi Gray, who will pose the question: "Was South Africa involved in the murder of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme in February 1986?"
Dr Dan Sleigh will kick off proceedings on Friday 25 February with a talk titled "The Return Fleets of the Dutch East India Company, 1602-1795". He will be followed by Prof Vivian Bickford-Smith, a specialist in modern history with a South African regional focus, who will discuss the significance of interracial friendships in the apartheid era.
Researcher Josette Cole will also discuss community histories "From Crossroads to Observatory in Cape Town". These events will also be held at the Piesang Valley Community Hall.
Following the discussions for the day, organisers will host a VIP dinner in aid of the local Plett Rugby Club at Wittedrift High School, with rugby legend Nick Mallett the guest speaker on transformation in South African rugby.
The final day will be held at Wittedrift High School. The entertaining Knysna historian and journalist Martin Hatchuel will start the day's discussions on the topic, "The use of historical characters in fiction". The discussion will be held alongside the writer, researcher and book editor Mike Kantey.
This will be followed by a discussion led by heritage consultant Gorinhaqua activist Ron Martin on Khoekhoen resistance to Dutch settlement.
The festival will come to an end with Piers Pigou, one of the interlocutors at the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), who will speak on the current insurgency in the Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.
Ticket sales will be done through Quicket and tickets, excluding the VIP dinner, will be R150 per session.
Nelson's Cave on the Robberg Peninsula dates back to the Stone Age.
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