By Charmain Naidoo
The recent event at The Market Theatre honoured Albertina Sisulu, the struggle doyenne, who would have celebrated her 100th birthday this year. It was here that the abridged version of the memoir titled “Albertina Sisulu” — a labour of love executed by the writer, political analyst and human rights activist Elinor Sisulu (who was also the beloved daughter-in-law) and award-winning author Sindiwe Magona — was revealed.
The book tells an important story about an important woman whose strength, commitment and resolve is now the stuff of legends. As described by biographer Magona, Sisulu “had a steadfastness of character, was without blemish; was courageous and loving”. What emerges from this book is that she straddled many worlds – comfortably. She was a political activist fighting for justice for all; she was a nurse devoted to caring for the sick and frail; she was a loving mother who raised a family of well adjusted children; she was a caring “aunt” who took in children in need; she was a hostess whose hospitality was renowned and she was a wife who deeply loved her husband.
The book launch was a moving event that began with the screening of Joyce Sikhakane-Rankin’s film “A South African Love Story: Walter & Albertina Sisulu.” For the executive producer, the making of the film was deeply personal to her as she had close links with the Sisulu family. In one of the following panel discussions, Ayanda Sisulu — grand-daughter of Walter and Albertina — compiled a photographic archive of this loved and highly-regarded political family. She stressed the importance of photographs as “an important record of history” and said that, sadly, many of the Sisulu family photographs had been lost.
“There was so much disruption in the life of this family that it has been very important to use visual aids to create a timeline, and to use pictures to remember events that occurred,” Ayanda shared.
Despite being banned, jailed, tormented, persecuted, tortured and kept apart for most of their married life, this couple’s unbridled love for each other still shines through like a ray of hope in a sea of despair during a time of strife under the apartheid regime. Walter Sisulu believed in complete equality between men and women and the couple are remembered by those who knew them as being coequal. There is an enduring memory of Walter and Albertina sitting together discussing things – politics, family, current events.
The need for an abridged version of the biography — described by the authors as “a big fat intimidating tome” — comes at a time when reading culture is shifting. Many people may wonder why there’s a need for another version now.
“People are not reading fat books,” author Elinor Sisulu commented. “I also wanted this book to be accessible to younger children so it was necessary to make it more reader-friendly.”
The abridged version of this book is of great importance for young South African men and women desperately in need of role models. The book will also now be translated into Xhosa, a fitting tribute since Albertina Nontsikelelo Thetiwe was born on the 21st of October in the Tsomo district of Transkei.
