We Made the Constitution
I was invited to work on a limited animated series for Constitution Hill produced with the aim of fostering a deeper understanding of South Africa’s most important document by revisiting the events & figures that shaped it, & in doing so, hopefully show a way forward.
Episode 1 - We Fought
The first episode chronicles the history of a tyrannical white minority rule in South Africa via cruel laws and constitutions put into place to legitimize their rule and subjugate the Black majority population. But more importantly, it also tells the story of a question that has been posed by Black people for generations ever since the arrival of the settlers, the question being, “How do we attain our freedom?” At first, journalists, poets, writers, and dreamers sought the answer this through writing and speaking out against this injustice, and proffered that it was, “the constitution and not the revolution [which] contained the only open door for progress”. These measures, however, were met with increased antagonism and violence from the state, with political arrests, mass killings, and brutal laws that separated Black and white citizens across every strata of society. Despite these actions, however, Black people were more resolved than ever that, “Freedom would one day crash onto the shores”.
Episode 2 - We Resisted
This episode tells the story of how allyship and solidarity with the rest of the world helped fan the flames of freedom. As an African renaissance spread throughout the continent with one nation after another gaining its independence from colonial rule, this momentum seeped its way into South Africa as well, giving the resistance hope that freedom was attainable. As a new generation, spurred on by the tenets of Black Consciousness, sought to gain their freedom through not just the pen, but their fists as well, the country quickly became ungovernable. This, in combination with boycotts from the international community, contributed to making apartheid untenable. And so finally, with the help of the rest of the world, the dream of freedom became an ever more possible reality.
Episode 3 - We Talk To The Enemy
The third episode is a story of faith. After sustained internal and external pressure, the apartheid head of state unbanned resistance political organizations, freed political prisoners, and expressed a desire to bring an end to apartheid rule. This kicked off a series of tentative talks and negotiations between sworn enemies. It was during this fragile time that the country also erupted into one of its most violent periods of history. At a time with the country being on the verge of a racialized civil war, unproductive peace talks, and a ruling white opposition that showed little commitment to real change, thankfully Black resistance coalitions displayed a resolve to not let the circumstances change who they were at their core either. They were still faithful that a fair and just constitution was the only tenable way forward. And with that, peace talks continued.
Episode 4 - Country on a Knife’s Edge
Still, the commitment to an equal and democratic country were tested. But despite numerous heartbreaking political assassinations, an interim constitution was agreed upon, and a date for the country’s first free and fair national elections was set. People came out, the results were tallied, and with the confirmation of Nelson Mandela as the first democratically elected president, the freedom and right to equality that so many had sought after and died for was here.
Episode 5 - We, The People
The final episode tells the story of how the nation’s most important document - the constitution - was detailed out and finally signed into place. South Africa’s history tells the story of a brutal past, but the constitution provides a map for the way forward.
Voice-over Artist: uMam’ UGcina Mhlophe
Animation: The Kinetic
Director: Stephen Galloway
Freelance Art Director: Pola Maneli
Freelance Illustrator: Pola Maneli
Creative Director: Estian Fourie
Designer: Reinette Roberts
Music: Phillip Miller
Project Manager: Gillian Pierce
History consultants: Prof Albie Sachs, Lwandile Xaso, Lauren Segal, & Prof Nomalanga Mkhize
2021 Gold Loerie for Campaign Craft Illustration awarded to Pola Maneli