Robben Island

Robben Island

Sunday morning we made our way to the Waterfront in order to get on the ferry that would take us to Robben Island. Robben Island has been used for multiple purposes since its existence. It was a training and defense station in World War II (1939-1945) and a hospital for people with leprosy, and the mentally and chronically ill (1846-1931). Then, it became a prison during apartheid. Indigenous African leaders, Muslim leaders from the East Indies, Dutch and British soldiers and civilians, women, and anti-apartheid activists, including South Africa's first democratic President, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and the founding leader of the Pan Africanist Congress, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, were all imprisoned on the Island. After almost missing the boat, we made it to the island! We had a tour of the inside of the prison first. We saw group cells as well as individual cells. The pictures below explain what they are and have specific facts attached to them. 

The tour bus with this phrase on its side: The journey's never long when freedom is the destination.

A group cell building.

A group cell where 40-50 men lived with no beds.

They each had an identification card containing this information.

They were separated into different groups based on their color. This determined their privileges while they were there.

Jama was our incredible tour guide. He served 5 years on Robben Island. He was arrested at 19 years old because of his color. He now works at Robben Island to help people understand the horrors of apartheid.

Jama and I.

One of the most impacting experiences on the island was visiting Nelson Mandela's cell where he lived for 18 years. He spent a total of 27 years in prison, but 18 of them were served at Robben Island. He forever changed the country of South Africa, and most of his influence was from that jail cell.

Mandela's garden where he hid manuscripts of Long Walk to Freedom.

Mandela's cell. It did not contain these things until a couple years before he was released.

His cell that is the size of a walk-in closet.

 We then continued with our tour of the island. Pictures with captions are below.

The graves of the lepers that were forced to live here in the late 1800's.

Solitary confinement cell where Robert Sobukwe (a leader against apartheid) was imprisoned for nine years with no contact with the outside world.

The Lime Quary where the men worked up to 10 hours a day. The brightness of the lime caused eye damage to most of them. The pile of stones is a memorial that Mandela started on the day when they returned to Robben Island as free men. Every former prisoner picked up a stone and placed it on the pile after Mandela.

Our group at Robben Island. Table Mountain is int he background.

They have penguins on Robben Island!

Overall, Robben Island is pretty indescribably. It was a very emotional experience. I am so thankful that we were able to see this historical site with our own eyes.