UKZN’s info4africa Centre involved in Development of Museum of HIV Memory and Learning

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info4africa, a self-funded Centre within the School of Applied Human Sciences, eThekwini Municipality and Avacarehealth have joined forces to develop African Voices - A Museum of HIV Memory and Learning, the first museum of its kind in Africa. 

info4africa is developing the content for the Museum through extensive consultation and participation with a wide range of stakeholders.

Providing support are the eThekwini Municipality; the AIDS2016 Local Support Committee and its Legacy Task Team; Avacarehealth, and civil society stakeholders engaged in health and wellbeing services and support throughout Africa.

According to info4africa Director Ms Debbie Heustice, the museum is dedicated to the African story of HIV documenting a critical and defining chapter in the country and Africa’s collective history. ‘It will be a dynamic, creative space for learning, dialogue and reflection on where we have come from as a continent,’ she said.

The African Voices Museum is not a typical museum but rather a growing collection of memories and stories that explore the wide variety of lived human experiences of the African HIV pandemic.

‘It is envisioned as a collection of artifacts as well as artistic, historic and photographic items that will document and pay tribute to those who suffered, succumbed, survived and struggled,’ said Heustice. ‘The Museum will strive to tell the story of HIV in Africa in a manner that is authentic, elegant, sensitive and holistic.’

This African Voices Museum, housed at the KwaMuhle Local History Museum, will be officially opened during the AIDS2016 International Conference in Durban in July and run until July, 2017.

‘This will mark the beginning of a journey that will grow and expand over time as the public participates and contributes their voices to the African Voices Museum Collection,’ said Heustice, who called on the public to donate, loan or share artifacts, artworks, archival material, documentary photography, audio and visual material for inclusion in the collection.

‘We are looking for subject specialists to engage with us on the development of the Museum content and to possibly facilitate a visit to the Museum for an organisation, community group or for a group of learners from an educational institution.’

For further information please contact Heustice on heusticed@info4africa.org.za.

* The African Voices Museum is a partnership project between Avacarehealth (donor partner), info4africa (implementing partner) and eThekwini Municipality (custodial partner and the host City of the AIDS2016 Conference). The African Voices Museum Project is being co-ordinated by info4africa under the Curatorship of Bren Brophy.

 Melissa Mungroo