20 years of relations between Ja and South Africa

South Africans and Jamaicans in Pretoria were treated to a symbolic and historic event recently as Poet Laureates of Jamaica and South Africa, Professor Mervyn Morris and Professor Keorapetse Kgositsile respectively, shared the stage at the National Library of South Africa during a Poetry Reading.

The event was in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of South Africa's democracy as well as the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Jamaica and South Africa.

This was the first time such an event was being held and the Poet Laureates delivered to a captive and appreciative audience. Among Professor Kgositsile's selections were 'No Serenity Here', 'No Boundaries' and 'Letter from Havana'. Among Professor Morris' readings were 'Give Thanks', 'Connection' and 'The Day My Father Died'.

In his remarks, Acting High Commissioner of Jamaica, John Clarke, noted that the advent of democracy in South Africa in April 1994 was the outcome of a struggle with which the government and people of Jamaica strongly empathised and supported. In that regard, he observed that the outcome formed the basis on which Jamaica and South Africa also established diplomatic relations in September of the same year.

Clarke emphasised that since then a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding have been signed by the two countries to promote cultural and economic ties.

The Poetry Reading was facilitated by the National Library of Jamaica, the Jamaican High Commission - Pretoria and the Department of Arts and Culture.