35 years later the events 16th of June 1976 are salient in the south African psyche. The Soweto Uprising, AKA "June 16", was a series of student-led protests in South Africa that began on the morning of June 16, 1976. Students from numerous Sowetan schools began to protest in the streets of Soweto, in response to the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in local schools. An estimated 20 000 students took part in the protests, and roughly 176 people were killed. The 16th of June is now a public holiday named Youth Day. It is remembrance of the events in 1976.
As I sat home and enjoyed the holiday I began thinking about how the world of cinema has chronicled Africa's fight for freedom. Mapantsula, Battle for Algiers, Flame immediately come to mind. I would have appreciated watching these types of movies on national TV to celebrate the sacrifice made by our freedom fighters but it seems national broadcaster’s don’t share my sentiments.
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