Stories From the Ashes
18 April 2021 was one of the saddest days in the history of the University of Cape Town. The Table Mountain runaway fire destroyed sections of the campus, including the Jagger Library. In it was the Special Collections, which held what was likely one of the leading collections of African stories. Now, there’s a book – Stories From the Ashes – that’s been made entirely from the remnants and ashes taken from the destroyed Jagger Library.
During the fire, the Jagger Reading Room was destroyed, along with its largely irreplaceable contents. This included two thirds of the African Studies Library, books, films, pamphlets, historic African government publications, manuscripts and archives.
Since then, UCT and DStv Africa have embarked on a journey to resurrect the stories lost in the fire. DStv collected five tonnes of ashes and remnants from the burnt stacks of African Studies literature. In addition, together with specialists they turned the ash into a unique ink to write new stories and to create a first book worthy to placed in the newly refurbished library. Ultimately, the book serves as a reminder of our commitment to rebuilding what was lost for future generations. It also outlines the rich legacy of Africa’s stories through the millennium.
What does Stories From the Ashes include?
Stories From the Ashes – Africa’s Story Through the Last Millennium is a book filled with visuals and reprinted extracts from surviving African Literature in the Special Collections Library following the April 2021 fire. It tackles different subjects like African History and Identity, Politics, Gender and Identity, Perofrming Arts, Literature, Language and Linguistics, African Youth, Migration and the African Diaspora, as well as Environment and Climate
Nonsumiso Mabece, Head of Consumer Marketing & PR at DSytv Africa says: “We as a business are thrilled to be a part of this project. For us, storytelling is a key element that helps us share and shape human experiences. Being in the business of storytelling, many of which start off as a book, a note or an essay, rebuilding the UCT library means enhancing the lengths through which our stories can be told. They can grow and be stored for future generations to learn.”
Furthermore, UCT Libraries’ executive director, Ujala Satgoor says: “Working with DStv has been a creative and fulfilling experience. While we still have some way to go in terms of rebuilding the physical structure and space of the Jagger Library, this partnership, process and project has again – as in April 2021 – shown that with collaboration and creativity much can be salvaged, achieved and rebuilt in our beautiful country. As a memorial to the fire, this special book will forever form pat of the new story of the Jagger Library, the story of literally and figuratively rebuilding from the ash.”
And, so we will always rise from the ashes through our stories.
For more content like this, click here.
Follow us on Instagram here.
Check out our sister-blog, Suitcase & Chardonnay here.
