A week of activities celebrating everything South African and showcasing untapped opportunities in the ‘Rainbow Nation’ has been held in Dublin recently.
Speaking at the launch of the week, South African ambassador to Ireland Jeremiah Ndou said the series of events to mark the initiative included trade fairs, a fashion show, a South African film festival and an exhibition of the Irish Anti Apartheid Movement.
He said the fashion session would “display a stunning fusion of Irish and South African designs created especially for South Africa week by Irish and South African emerging designers”.
On the exhibition, which presented some of the main events and the work done by the Irish Anti Apartheid Movement – not to mention the late Kader Asmal and his wife Louise, alongside the thousands of Irish people who supported ending the apartheid regime – Ambassador Ndou said it was “but a small overview of the sheer volume and work that went into realising a dream by Irish people for South Africa.”
He singled out the famous Dunnes Stores strikers and photographer Derek Speirs, students, trade unions and artists and performers who gave up lucrative opportunities to perform in South Africa by participating in the cultural boycott.
The ambassador also paid special tribute to Christy Moore for not only accepting to perform at the event but for his “gift of music and lyrics and for [his] contribution to our country’s freedom”.
