11 September 2026
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Story Lunga Luthuli
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Photo Supplied
Awethu Mhlongo and Prof Jared McDonald from the UFS Department of History attended the ‘Dutch Slavery Pasts and Their Afterlives’ symposium at the University of the Western Cape.
Associate Professor
Prof Jared McDonald and master’s student Awethu Mhlongo from the University of the Free State (UFS)
Department of History recently contributed to critical conversations on the enduring legacies of
Dutch slavery at a symposium focused on ‘Dutch Slavery Pasts and Their Afterlives’.
The collaborative initiative was officially launched at a separate event hosted by the Ambassador of the Netherlands to South Africa,
Joanne Doornewaard, at the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation in Cape Town.
Prof Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, said, “The enduring legacies of slavery remind us that rigorous scholarship is essential to confronting inequality and advancing human dignity. At UFS, we champion research that not only uncovers the past but also reshapes conversations about justice, equity, and belonging. By examining slavery’s afterlives, we will contribute to deeper public understanding, critical reflection, and social repair not only nationally but also globally.”
Examining the lasting impact of slavery
The symposium brought together scholars from South Africa, Suriname, Indonesia, and the Netherlands to reflect on histories affected by Dutch slavery.
Prof McDonald, principal investigator for the UFS, said platforms such as the symposium are important in broadening understanding of slavery beyond its historical context. “Slavery cannot be understood simply as a historical institution that ended with abolition,” he said. “Historical inequalities, patterns of exclusion and contested memories continue to influence contemporary societies.”
He added that the legacies of slavery continue to shape questions of memory, identity, inequality, representation, and redress. “Bringing together perspectives from South Africa, Suriname, Indonesia, and the Netherlands allows us to identify both common patterns and important differences in how slavery was experienced, remembered, and subsequently represented,” he said.
Creating space for diverse historical perspectives
Participating universities included Anton de Kom University in Suriname and Universitas Gadjah Mada in Indonesia, as well as a consortium of nine South African universities: the University of the Free State, University of the Western Cape, Stellenbosch University, Nelson Mandela University, the University of Venda, Sol Plaatje University, North-West University, the University of Pretoria and the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
The symposium explored multi-vocal and cross-disciplinary perspectives on themes including memory, identity, and erasure.
“The discussions highlighted how some histories have been remembered and commemorated, while others have been marginalised or erased,” Prof McDonald
said. “Addressing these silences requires us to think critically about whose histories are preserved, whose voices are heard, and how these histories are represented in public spaces and institutions.”
The responsibilities of emerging historians
For Mhlongo, the symposium reinforced the responsibility of early-career historians to consider not only how knowledge is produced, but also how history can be made meaningful and accessible to wider audiences. “The symposium was not only about learning about historical spaces; it provided an opportunity to physically move through them. It reminded me that history can connect the past to the spaces, cultures, and experiences of the present,” she said.
Prof McDonald added, “Universities have an important responsibility to create spaces where difficult histories can be researched critically, taught honestly and connected to contemporary questions of justice and inequality.”
Strengthening cross-border scholarly collaboration
Looking ahead, Prof McDonald sees opportunities to develop shared theoretical and methodological approaches with partner countries around questions of memory, erasure, slavery’s afterlives, and repatriation, while recognising the distinct histories and experiences of each context.
For the next generation of scholars, the symposium demonstrated the value of working collaboratively across borders and disciplines, listening to multiple voices, and paying attention to the silences and absences in historical records. “Studying slavery should not only deepen our understanding of the past; it should help us think more critically about the societies we are building in the present,” concluded Prof McDonald.
Prof Reddy echoed these views. “Universities must lead courageous inquiry into difficult histories that continue to shape present-day inequalities,” he said. “Cross-border scholarly collaboration strengthens our collective capacity to address complex historical and contemporary injustices. Investigating slavery's enduring legacies is not an academic exercise alone; it is a commitment to shaping fairer and responsible societal futures.”