UWC–Robben Island Museum Mayibuye Archives University of the Western Cape

Overview

The UWC–Robben Island Museum (RIM) Mayibuye Archives is one of the largest archives of South African liberation struggle materials in the world. It is a joint archival enterprise between the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the Robben Island Museum (RIM), physically located at the UWC Main Library on the Bellville campus near Cape Town, South Africa. "Mayibuye" is a Nguni word meaning "let it return," associated with the liberation slogan Mayibuye iAfrika.

History and Founding

The archives' origins lie in the work of the London-based International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF), which secretly documented and funded the anti-apartheid struggle from the 1950s until the unbanning of political organizations in 1990. After IDAF's closure, its extensive collections were relocated to South Africa and placed at the University of the Western Cape, which established the Mayibuye Centre for History and Culture between 1990 and 1991 under the leadership of Professor Jakes Gerwel. In September 1996, the South African Cabinet established the Robben Island Museum as the country's first post-apartheid heritage institution, and recommended that the IDAF/Mayibuye collections be incorporated into it. This recommendation was implemented on April 1, 2000, through a comprehensive cooperation agreement between RIM and UWC, creating the current joint archive. It is funded by the Department of Arts and Culture.

Collections and Holdings

The archives are organized into four main sections:

• Historical Papers and Books: Includes the International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) papers (legal assistance records, welfare assistance, research and information); the Apple Box Archives (materials secretly recorded by Robben Island prisoners); personal and organizational documents of anti-apartheid and liberation movements
• Photographic Collections: Includes the Eli Weinberg Collection (1940s–1970s), the Leon Levson Collection (1940s–1960s, documenting rural and urban social conditions), the Billy Paddock Collection (1980s), and others documenting apartheid, liberation movements, forced removals, political prisoners, trade unions, and women
• Audio-Visual Collections: Recordings of speeches, rallies, music, and radio broadcasts of liberation movements; film and video productions networked internationally by IDAF; the Afravision Video Archive (1980s mass struggle footage, acquired 2000)
• Art and Artefacts: Paintings, prints, sculptures, cartoons, T-shirts, badges, banners, and posters from South African and international anti-apartheid artists

Relevance to Journalism and Media Research

The IDAF research and information outreach program produced a large volume of press materials, reports, and publications used to raise awareness of apartheid internationally, making the archives a key resource for the history of anti-apartheid media activism. The photographic and audiovisual collections document the role of visual journalism and documentary film in the liberation struggle.

Access

The archives are located in Level 1 of the UWC Main Library, Modderdam Road, Bellville, Cape Town. Researchers may contact the archives directly to arrange access.