Writer and enthusiastic speaker Conny Braam gives many lectures about her experiences with the underground struggle against apartheid. She will visit the Bibliotheek Drachten on Tuesday 11 May 2021. Braam also talks about her searches in archives and the sometimes shocking stories that lie hidden there. In addition, she will give a look at her next book this evening. The lecture is free and is organized by the Bibliotheek Drachten, Stichting Literaire Activiteiten Smallingerland (SLAS) and Stichting Literaire Activiteiten Heerenveen (SLAH).
Information about the lecture
Braam shows through her lectures that the truth is often slightly different than people think. 75 years ago, during the death march from Auschwitz, in the long procession of exhausted prisoners was Sergeant Jakob Witbooi. Together with thousands of South Africans, he was taken as prisoner of war in North Africa in 1942 and transported to Europe. The racial relationships from home continued.
At the end of 1944, Jacob and his friends ended up as a forced laborer at IG Farben in Auschwitz III. He understood that this was the ultimate consequence of racism. Covert conversations with the Jewish Amsterdammer Wolfie Waterman made him realize that his faith in Churchill’s promise was unjustified. Churchill argued that fighting the Nazis would give the colonized soldiers the right to vote. The end of the war would bring South Africa apartheid.
New book
In addition to the lecture on apartheid, Braam will talk about her new book. This takes place in Friesland at the time of Domela Nieuwenhuis. The socialist propagandist Geertje Kleefstra from Roordahuizum plays an important role in this. Kleefstra acted as a role model for Braam’s grandmother.
Online participation
The lecture takes place via the video calling program Zoom. Participation is free, registration is required. This can be done via the website of the Bibliotheek Drachten. Each participant will receive an email with further information.
photo: Jelmer de Haas
www.bibliotheekdrachten.nl