S. Africa Xenophobic Attacks: Exhibition hopes to raise awareness, put an end to violence
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Meanwhile, two leading South African photojournalists are showcasing some powerful IMAGES about the xenophobic attacks that occurred in that country in 2008. The exhibition marks the 10th anniversary of the shocking outbreak of xenophobic violence, which swept through South Africa that year. The attacks left more than 60 people dead. CGTN's Yolisa Njamela has more.
The exhibition lays bare all the brutality of the xenophobic attacks for all to see. It documents the continuing flare ups of xenophobic violence in South Africa since 2008. It serves as a reminder to never forget the scourge of xenophobia that lurks in South African society and to call for action against it.
ALON SKUY PHOTOJOURNALIST & EXHIBITOR "This exhibition hopes to raise awareness about the xenophobic violence and the discrimination and attacks and hatred and try to create a dialogue around it and try to put an end to the violence. I hope the exhibition raises some sort of discussion around the pain the people have been through and adds more of an educational tool to speak about these atrocities and to try and educate young people that we are all the same, there's no other."
TALI NATES, DIRECTOR GENOCIDE AND HOLOCAUST CENTRE "It is an important exhibition because we need here in South Africa to always reflect about our own very painful past and to know that our own past was not an antidote or a medical way, like medicine to make us all tolerant as if we were never suffering. So I think it's very important to always reflect and this exhibition allows us to do that."
The award-winning photographers who are exhibiting this work here say they sifted through hundreds of their images covering the xenophobic eruptions.
They've chosen 60 pictures for the exhibition titled "Killing the Other" - a documentation of their personal experiences.
JAMES OATWAY PHOTOJOURNALIST & EXHIBITOR "Personally for me as a photojournalist I've covered a lot of protests and violence and I find xenophobic violence in South Africa the most shocking cause it's happening in my own country. Every time there's an outbreak people are outraged and it's all over the news but as soon as things calm down and quiet down then people tend to forget about it and this exhibition is up so people can take a good look at how people treat each other. How bad can treat each other and also reflect and engage in debate and talk about what's happening and why it still continues to this day."
YOLISA NJAMELA JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA "The jarring but beautiful works on display in this exhibition highlight the importance of photojournalism and the power of images. The two photojournalist say they want to ensure that the dialogue continues about this important subject of xenophobia and they hope their work will be instrumental in that aspect. Yolisa Njamela, CGTN, Johannesburg, South Africa."