National Women's Day of South Africa

In the spirit of Embassy Cultural House’s transnational commitment to celebrating artists and cultural workers around the globe, we are pleased to celebrate South Africa’s National Women’s Day on August 9, 2021. For this celebration, the 2003 documentary Legends of Madiba will be shown online for the first time ever. The film will be available exclusively through the Embassy Cultural House website.

The presentation of this documentary will commemorate the incredible achievements of South African Women during Apartheid, as well as the achievements of South African women here and now. Lorraine Klaasen, in tandem with Henshaw Productions catalogues The Legends of Madiba “in their own words”. The documentary features South African singers and Nelson Mandela’s favorite performers Tandie Klaasen, Dolly Rathebe, Dorothy Masuku, Abigail Kubeka, Sophie MgCina, and Lorraine Klaasen, as they sing and dance in the face of oppression.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE LEGENDS OF MADIBA

Who are the women of South Africa today? Across a broad spectrum of careers and industries, the Embassy Cultural House is happy to bring together Hélène Blanchette, Lorraine Klaasen, Nandipha Ndhlovu and Sheila Woodward in conversation on August 9, 2021 at 1PM EDT (Toronto) / 7PM SAST (South Africa) / 8 PM EAT (Kenya) hosted on Zoom at the link below.

OUR STORY
Artists Jamelie Hassan and Ron Benner and jazz musician Eric Stach founded the Embassy Cultural House (1983-1990) located in the restaurant portion of the Embassy Hotel at 732 Dundas Street in East London. Other former members of the board were: Debrann Eastabrook, Henry Eastabrook, Sharron Forrest, Wyn Geleynse, Janice Gurney, Jean Hay (1929 - 2008), Doug Mitchell, Kim Moodie, Gerard Pas, Peter Rist, Wanda Sawicki, Jean Spence and Jennie White. In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Embassy Cultural House was re-envisioned as a virtual artist-run space and website.

EDITORIAL TEAM

CURATORIAL ADVISORS
Jamelie Hassan & Ron Benner

ADVISORY CIRCLE
Samer Abdelnour, Wyn Geleynse, Fern Helfand, S F Ho, Lorraine Klaasen, Judith Rodger, Ruth Skinner, Mary Lou and Dan Smoke,  and Lucas Stenning

COORDINATING EDITOR
Tariq Hassan Gordon

WEB DESIGN & SOCIAL MEDIA
Matthew Dawkins, Tariq Hassan Gordon, Olivia Mossuto, Niloufar Salimi, &  Jade Williamson

VIRTUAL TOURS
Andreas Buchwaldt

PRINT PUBLICATIONS
Shelley Kopp, Olivia Mossuto

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Andreas Buchwaldt, Matthew Dawkins,  Ira Kazi, Shelley Kopp, Olivia Mossuto, Niloufar Salimi,  Jenna Rose Sands, &  Michelle Wilson,

PAST CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Charlotte Egan,, Mackenzie Smith, &  Jade Williamson

This project is supported by the London Arts Council through the City of London's Community Arts Investment Program:

Thank you to our partners

E M B A S S Y C U L T U R A L H O U S E . C A

London, Ontario is on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Lenape, Attawandaron and Huron-Wendat peoples, at the forks of Deshkan Ziibi (Antler River), an area subject to the Dish with One Spoon Wampum and other treaties.

Celebrating National Women's Day of South AfricaAugust 9, 2021

Thank you to our partners

E M B A S S Y C U L T U R A L H O U S E . C A

Celebrating National Women's Day of South Africa
August 9, 2021