30 November 2014 ~ Robben Island

Listening to: Neil Young ~ Helpless


This canon is basically the first thing one sees when starting the Robben Island tour with the prison coming into view in the background.

The first part of the trip is via bus, and the guide is someone who currently lives on the island. First up on the tour was the leper cemetery.
Starting in 1845 the island was also used as a leper colony and animal quarantine station.  Initially this was done on a voluntary basis and the lepers were free to leave the island if they so wished. After the introduction of the Leprosy Repression Act in May 1892 admission was no longer voluntary and the movement of the lepers was restricted. Prior to 1892 an average of about 25 lepers a year were admitted to Robben Island, but in 1892 that number rose to 338, and in 1893 a further 250 were admitted.

The Good Shepherd Church was built in 1841 with prison labor.

I don't think this school is still in operation.

Arriving at Robben Island I was envisioning something akin to Alcatraz. The island is much bigger and the prison not as ominous upon arrival. The shoreline however is very similar to the Monterey Bay area.

Prisoners were made to work in the lime quarry. This cairn of stones called isisivane at the entrance of the quarry was created by ex-political prisoners, led by Mandela, during their reunion in 1995. It commemorates the daily life and hard work endured by political prisoners. Prisoners, including Mandela, were refused the use of sunglasses and the glare of the limestone caused permanent eye damage.

The tour of the prison was led by a former prisoner. We saw the bunk rooms, showers, and numerous individual and group cells.

This is the cell of Nelson Mandela. He served 18 of his 27 year sentence on Robben Island, from 1964 - 1982 (the years of my birth and graduation from high school put it in perspective for me).

A long walk to freedom for many.