SOUTH AFRICAN DIGITAL MUSEUM

SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM | DIGITAL ARCHIVES | COMING SOON | 📧 : [email protected]

[SOUTH AFRICAN DIGITAL MUSEUM @sa_museum]

Discover. Preserve. Connect.
South African Digital Museum #SADM

[Nandi Madida 🇿🇦 @Nandi_Madida]

Wow!❤️🥹Thank you, I had genuinely forgotten we had this version of the national anthem, thank you for reminding me. My favourite part was singing “Woza moya” as a young girl. This country and its people have gone through so much 😔 🇿🇦

[Michael de Villiers @Mikedotcoza]

Apartheid was well engineered. Every law, policy, and institution designed to sustain inequality. That’s why reversing it demands deliberate effort, not slogans and empty rhetoric.

[History ZAR @HistorySAZAR]

Spatial Apartheid wasn't just policy. It was architecture weaponized. The Urban Areas Act of 1923 segregated cities, creating "influx controls" to limit Black access to urban spaces. Johannesburg's 56km gold reef became a psycho-geographic divide: wealthy white suburbs North, Black townships South, extracting labor while enforcing distance. Credit: Bella Mzolo, Image: Apartheid city structure by M. Napier, du Plessis and Landman (2002)

[😎 @tlatsi_ZA]

Guys there are so many great people in our country that we don't know about.

[SOUTH AFRICAN DIGITAL MUSEUM @sa_museum]

🇿🇦 South Africa is made up of 9 provinces and recognizes 11 official languages, reflecting its rich cultural diversity. The nation is home to four main racial groups—Black, White, Coloured, and Indian/Asian—making it one of the most multicultural countries in the world. #SADM

[SOUTH AFRICAN DIGITAL MUSEUM @sa_museum]

🇿🇦 South Africa is made up of 9 provinces and recognizes 11 official languages, reflecting its rich cultural diversity. The nation is home to four main racial groups—Black, White, Coloured, and Indian/Asian—making it one of the most multicultural countries in the world. #SADM

[AFRICAN & BLACK HISTORY @AfricanArchives]

Zulu Women in South Africa, 1915.

[SOUTH AFRICAN DIGITAL MUSEUM @sa_museum]

@AphiweMame ❤️

[History ZAR @HistorySAZAR]

Untitled Apartheid photograph by Ernest Cole (1940-1990), ca 1960s, from 'House of Bondage'. © Ernest Cole Family Trust

[SOUTH AFRICAN DIGITAL MUSEUM @sa_museum]

📅 On this day, 9 October 1963:
The historic Rivonia Trial began in Pretoria — where Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki & others stood accused of fighting apartheid. Their courage turned the world’s eyes to South Africa’s struggle for freedom. 🇿🇦✊🏾 #SADM

[SOUTH AFRICAN DIGITAL MUSEUM @sa_museum]

📅 On this day, 9 October 1963:
The historic Rivonia Trial began in Pretoria — where Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki & others stood accused of fighting apartheid. Their courage turned the world’s eyes to South Africa’s struggle for freedom. 🇿🇦✊🏾 #SADM

[IChooseViolence @ourhermitage]

#funfact
Beyoncé learned about the injustice faced by Solomon Linda, the South African singer who wrote ‘Mbube’ (later turned into The Lion Sleeps Tonight) but died poor and uncredited. It angered her so much that she created Black Is King to credit and honour him.

Despite its widespread international success as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in Disney's The Lion King (1994) and the 2019 remake, Linda and his family received little financial compensation or credit for the song. 

Solomon Linda died a pauper in 1962, and his family struggled for decades to receive recognition and royalties. 

Beyoncé’s Black is King features the original "Mbube" as an homage to Solomon Linda, ensuring he is acknowledged for his work.

She didn’t have to, but she did.
Because Beyoncé always gives credit, especially when history didn’t.

[History ZAR @HistorySAZAR]

A student who said he was going to fetch his textbook is pulled in. To prove he was still in school he showed his fountain pen and ink-stained fingers. But that was not enough; in long pants he looked older than sixteen, c 1960s. Photographer: Ernest Cole (1940-1990)

[History ZAR @HistorySAZAR]

Mamelodi, c 1960s by Ernest Cole (1940-1990). Image Source: Magnum Photos

[Ms. @AphiweMame]

🎥Have You Seen Drum Recently? (1988)

Miriam Makeba hanging out with Bra Can Themba, Bra Bloke Modisane and more singing:

[Nzinga Qunta @NzingaQ]

The Johannesburg Art Gallery has work from South African artists from the 1800s to modern day. It’s open until 5pm every day. Closed on Monday. Admission is free. Go if you can.

[SOUTH AFRICAN DIGITAL MUSEUM @sa_museum]

@OfficialTeamRSA ❤️

[Team South Africa @OfficialTeamRSA]

This is how much it means to Puseletso — a gold medal in the 100m T63! 🇿🇦✨

#TeamSA #ForMyCountry

[History ZAR @HistorySAZAR]

A wedding in Mamelodi, c 1960s. Photographer: Ernest Cole

[Siphiwe Mhlambi @sphiwemhlambi]

Happy Birthday, Mam’ Letta Mbulu! ✨