20 Years of the Artscape Women's Humanity Festival: A Defiant Celebration of Black Women's Resistance

For two decades, the Artscape Women's Humanity Festival has stood as a powerful testament to the courage of the 20,000 women who marched on the Union Buildings in 1956. This year's edition, running until 31 August, marks 70 years since that historic defiance against Apartheid's brutal 'dompas' laws, and it remains a vital platform for our communities to demand justice, equality, and inclusion.

When Rahima Moosa, Lilian Ngoyi, Sophie Williams-de Bruyn, and Helen Joseph led 20,000 women to Pretoria on 9 August 1956, they carried petitions with over 100,000 signatures. They stood in silence for 30 minutes before chanting Wathint' Abafazi Wathint'imbokodo (You strike a woman, you strike a rock). That spirit of collective resistance forms the core of this festival, curated by diverse community stakeholders for women, persons with disabilities, the LGBTQIA+ community, artists, activists, and all who seek to use the arts as a weapon against oppression.

Why does the Artscape Women's Humanity Festival matter in 2026?

The festival amplifies the bold action of 1956 through a month-long programme of book launches, documentary screenings, theatre, dance, song, exhibitions, workshops, and public discussions. It gives voice to those previously excluded, challenging silence and celebrating resilience. As Zanele Mokoena, the author of this piece and a key figure at Artscape, noted in her address at the 2026 Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Africa Region Gender Sensitisation Workshop, the arts are leveraged to dismantle harmful stereotypes and foster inclusive narratives.

This year's Humanity Walk, held in the rain, was led by persons with disabilities and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, alongside the Bonteheuwel Walking Ladies. Young interfaith leaders offered blessings, and Cape Town pop sensation Jimmy Nevis performed his anti-GBV song 'Prey'. Salome, a survivor of gender-based violence from Mitchells Plain, shared the stage with Michael September, chairperson of Lief en Leed for persons with disabilities in Mamre, each expressing the need for a platform to voice their common demands for acceptance, resources, and real change.

What are the key challenges facing marginalised communities?

Our country boasts one of the world's most progressive constitutions, yet women with disabilities remain among the most politically marginalised. The best laws lack implementation. This was a key theme in a panel discussion facilitated by radio personality Lester Kiewit, featuring Prof Gertrude Fester-Wicomb, NPA Advocate Bonnie Currie-Gamwo, Pastor Craven Engel, disability activist Notukela Makohliso, and author Dianne du Toit Albertze. The panellists were united in demanding proper accountability and implementation from those in power, particularly regarding the scourge of gender-based violence and the lack of inclusion for all people.

How does the Humanity Walk break the silence?

The Artscape Women's Humanity Walk on National Women's Day, from the Cape Town Civic Centre to the Artscape building, was a powerful act of collective action. Participants observed a moment of silence before removing masks and collectively declaring, 'Stop the Silence' in partnership with Women for Change. This act symbolises a united stand against gender-based violence, discrimination, and the silencing of marginalised voices. The Walk reiterates the call to stop stereotyping, stop prejudice, and promote humanity, reminding us that each person's life matters. It is an open call to the government to actively enforce, adequately fund, and strengthen existing legal frameworks to protect our marginalised citizens.

How does the festival embrace LGBTQIA+ inclusion?

With sold-out productions like the annual ABFAB Drag show, Divalicious Dames, and Bottelnek Breek Bek, the festival has proven to be a space that embraces all gender expressions. This is crucial, as LGBTQIA+ activists were recently shocked by the acquittal of a man accused of an alleged 'corrective rape' case involving a lesbian teenager raped in Atteridgeville in January 2020. The verdict has renewed debate around the challenges LGBTQIA+ survivors face when seeking justice. The festival's commitment to being a place for all is a direct challenge to the discrimination these communities still face daily.

Honouring the legacy of Dr Mildred Ramakaba-Lesiea

This year, the festival honoured Dr (Mme) Mildred Ramakaba-Lesiea (93), a veteran activist from Langa/Gugulethu who played a vital role in mobilising Cape Town women for the 1956 Women's March. She was the first woman detained at Pollsmoor Prison and faced numerous house arrests. Her account of these sacrifices underscores the festival's role as a vehicle where the heroic stories of our strong women are recognised and passed on to the younger generation.

What does the EVERYWOMAN Textile Artwork represent?

Community volunteers worked together to create two hand-crafted EVERYWOMAN Textile Artworks, unveiled during the festival to memorialise the historic Women's March and celebrate the Artscape building's 55 years. Every stitch tells a story of courage, resistance, defiance, resilience, strength, and hope. These quilts will hang in the Artscape building for years to come, a gift from the community to a government institution, proving that Artscape is truly a place for all.

Why is the 'Bones' documentary screening significant?

The festival screened 'Bones', a documentary by UCT Master's graduate Nomandla Vilakazi, which explores the repatriation of the remains of Sara 'Saartjie' Baartman from the Musée de l'Homme in Paris to South Africa in May 2002, after nearly two centuries. She was laid to rest in Hankey on 9 August 2002, National Women's Day. The film encourages deep reflection on the history of gender-based violence and the objectification and abuse experienced by our First Nations women during colonisation, highlighting the loss of cultural heritage and the dire need for repatriation and restoration.

What books are being launched at the festival?

Woman Zone launched three books by women authors. 'Lilian Ngoyi - a Life' by Martha Evans speaks to the bravery and intellect of one of the key architects of the 1956 march. 'Choreographing Rebellion: Dance practice from South Africa to Japan' by jackï job gives a powerful account of choreography engaging with identity, decolonisation, and transformation. 'Chasing Deadlines' by journalist Rusana Philander is a deeply personal memoir.

The Artscape Women's Humanity Festival, now 20 years strong, is a high-visibility, impactful annual event that brings together communities from all backgrounds. It is a decisive act of defiance, resistance, courage, and strength that moves us to use our platforms to state: Enough is enough! Nothing about us without us! Forward we shall march!