DR NARISSA RAMDHANI

Durbanite honoured by Doctorate from University of Connecticut

Dr Narissa Ramdhani has recently been awarded an Honorary Graduand from the University of Connecticut (UCONN) in the USA. Currently the CEO of the heritage organization The Ifa Lethu Foundation, Ramdhani is internationally-known as a former anti-apartheid activist.

Born in Durban and a direct descendant of Indian indentured labourers, after completing her bachelors, honours and master’s degrees in South Africa, she was forced to leave the country, her eight month-old daughter and family and fled to the USA in 1988. The University of Connecticut gave her refuge and she continued her academic studies there, followed by a position at Yale University.

Returning to South Africa at the behest of the ANC and Nelson Mandela in 1993, she was appointed as the archivist to repatriate the ANC’s lost archives.

In 2005 she was appointed to head up the Ifa Lethu Foundation to locate and repatriate the country’s heritage works lost during the apartheid era. Today Ifa Lethu has more than 300 important pieces in its collection from more than 16 countries – all donated by their owners. In addition to repatriation, Ifa Lethu currently is heavily involved in the development of cultural and creative entrepreneurs.

Still a Durban resident, Ramdhani commutes to Ifa Lethu in Pretoria on a weekly basis and is highly honoured by the UCONN recognition.

“I have always believed strongly in the potential of the individual,” she says. “Archival records – whether documents or art works – are a source of pride for our people, especially the youth, and are part of the healing and nation-building activities we so clearly need. I am truly honoured.”