A series of lectures under the title of “The Van Riebeeck Society and the making of Southern African History” was presented at the UCT Summer School during May 2018 in celebration of the Society’s Centenary. For more information click here to go to the Activities Page.
The Society held a two-part, two-venue celebration on 29 August 2018, exactly 100 years since in was founded. The first part was at the National Library of South Africa in Cape Town where a richly-varied exhibition was opened by Najwa Hendrickse of the library under the auspices of which our Society was founded in 1918. This was followed by a convivial, celebratory cocktail party at the Centre for the Book in Queen Victoria Street. On the program of this function was a toast given by our guest-of-honour, noted historian Professor Bill Nasson. There was also a display of our 100 volumes, with an opportunity to take a ‘selfie’ alongside them (‘the selfie of the century’), a slide show, an opinion board, staged readings of ‘gems’ from our 100 volumes and a light-hearted quiz (with prizes), clues for which were found at the exhibition at the National Library.
The celebration was attended by 170 members and invited guests, and was a great success, with its well-integrated mix of words, images and live music, of celebration, sociability and erudition. Those present commented enthusiastically on the imaginative variety of the evening’s proceedings and their well-conceived framework and smooth orchestration. A video of these proceedings has been produced and can be viewed by clicking on the link below:
VRS Centenary celebration 29 Aug 2018
Below are photographs of the proceedings at the National Library and the Centre for the Book on 29 August 2018.
