04/04/2026
Robben Island sits just off the coast of Cape Town.
For centuries, the island was used as a place of isolation, first for indigenous leaders who resisted colonial rule, later as a l***r colony and mental institution. It became globally significant during apartheid, when it was turned into a maximum-security prison for political prisoners.
Nelson Mandela was imprisoned there for 18 of his 27 years in captivity. Confined to a small cell and subjected to hard labour in a limestone quarry, Mandela and fellow inmates endured harsh conditions. Yet, in a remarkable twist, But, the prison also became known as a “university of resistance,” where prisoners educated one another, debated politics, and strengthened their resolve for a democratic South Africa. 🇿🇦