Iziko Museums of South Africa is set to host a powerful new international exhibition exploring the enduring impacts of slavery, colonialism and the global fight for freedom.

Titled In Slavery’s Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World, the travelling exhibition opened at the Iziko South African National Gallery in the Company’s Garden on Friday 22 May and will be accessible until Saturday 31 October.

Cape Town marks the third stop on the exhibition’s global tour following its international debut abroad.

The landmark exhibition is the result of a major international collaboration led by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Global Curatorial Project (GCP), with contributions from leading museums, scholars, curators and community educators from around the world.

Iziko Museums of South Africa said in a statement visitors can expect a deeply immersive experience featuring 190 objects, 250 images and 10 multimedia interactives and films.

The GCP focuses on creating new public understanding around the historical experiences and modern-day legacies of racial slavery and colonialism.

Through exhibitions, workshops, public programmes and digital storytelling, the network aims to reshape how museums engage with global histories of oppression and resistance.

The exhibition combines historical artefacts, photography, visual art and film to spark conversations about identity, justice, memory and freedom across continents and generations.

Organisers say the exhibition invites audiences to reflect on how the legacies of slavery and colonialism continue to shape societies today, while also highlighting stories of resistance, resilience and Black liberation across the world.

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