The Robben Island Museum and National Monument (Essay Sample)

The Robben Island Museum and National Monument [Name of Author] [Institutional Affiliation] The Robben Island Museum and National Monument Discovered in 1488 by Bartolomeo Dias in Western Cape Province of South Africa, it was initially never known that the famous Robben Island would become a National Heritage Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an acclaimed historical site. In the antiquity of South Africa, it is remembered by tyrannical governments, the apartheid regime (Fleminger, 2009). All these facts only became real at the end of 2013 when the Nobel Peace Prize winner of 1993, Nelson Mandela was buried in Qunu, South Africa. As of today, Robben Island is acclaimed for having been a prison for forty-four recognized personalities including three presidents of South Africa, anti-apartheid activists, student leaders, anti-colonial political activists, and a father to a former South African President (Mandela, 2011). Approximately 13.5 square kilometers in area, the geography of Robben Island indicates that it is about seven kilometers off Table Bay and nearly the same distance from Cape Town. In relation to seals, its name was coined by the Dutch from the word ‘Robbe’ which means seals. This place is the location of the historically highest submerged snow mountain named the Minto's Hill. Although it is primarily a composition of Rock bases, it is famous for hosting more than twenty mammal species, different birds, snakes, and reptiles. Additionally, the island is rich in limestone, sands, calcrete, and other mineral deposits (Mandela, 2011). Conceivably, the most outstanding feature of Robben Island that makes it much significant is related to its association with South African Politics of the Apartheid. Notably, Jacob Zuma, Kgalema Motlanthe, and Nelson Mandela who served South Africa as presidents were all imprisoned in the Robben Island. Other than these, the father to Thabo Mbeki who is a former president was also imprisoned there. Additional notable names in the list of prisoners include Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada, an anti-apartheid activist, Murphy Morobe, a student leader, Jerry Ekandjo, Petrus Iilonga, John ya Otto Nankudhu, Gaus Shikomba, and Andimba Toivo ya Toivo from Namibia, and Walter Sisulu; who was an activist of the African National Congress (Mandela, 2011). Symbolically, the strategic location of the island was meant to discourage politicians from their courses. However, this was never so as it increased their determination instead (Mandela, 2008). Other than acting as a prison, Robben Island also remains famous for a number of other factors. These include the establishment of an institution for the mentally ill, a collection and dumping ground for all lepers in South Africa, and a disposal ground for the penurious and diseased. After agitation and rise of different challenges in the late 20th century, the authorities deemed it relevant that those considered as lunatics be alienated from all others in the island (Tonge & Morris, 2004). Irrespective of the fact that the rest were to be unified, the separation between blacks and whites was further widened until the eve of South Af...