Chilean-American author, writer and human rights activist, Ariel Dorfman, delivered the Eighth Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture on July 31 in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

The theme of his lecture was memory, justice and reconciliation. Nelson Mandela Foundation CEO, Achmat Dangor, opened the lecture which was attended by an audience of 2,000 people. 

Ariel Dorfman delivers the Eighth Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Johannesburg, South Africa

The audience was reminded that “Memory does not exist in a vacuum,” and that we need to allow diverse memories and interpretations of history to coexist if we are to reconcile, even in our differences. 

Emphasising the importance of justice being done in the name of future generations, rather than of retribution, Dorfman said, “We cannot undo the damage of the past, but must strive instead to undo the damage to the future, we must prove in our actions tomorrow that we have learned from the terrors and sins of yesteryear.” 

He ended by saying: “There is no guarantee that we will ever reach the deep reconciliation we need as a species. Indeed, I tend to think that some damage done is irreparable.  But when despair visits me, I hold onto the image of the garden, a garden that grows like memories should. A garden that grows as justice should. A garden that grows like true reconciliation should.” 

“We need to always remember the multiple, infinite gardens of Nelson Mandela and his people.” 

See video footage of the Eighth Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture here 

Read more information at the Nelson Mandela Foundation