“Presents one of the few important and critical reflections on the politics of memorialization after the end of apartheid in South Africa.” —Ulf Engel, Connections

Following the birth of democracy in South Africa in 1994, Robben Island, once a symbol of pain, injustice, and closed spaces, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a global symbol of the commitment to democracy, tolerance, and human dignity. In the years that followed, however, conflict marred the high hopes for this cherished location. Robben Island Rainbow Dreams offers a behind-the-scenes account of the creation of the Robben Island Museum and the debate over democratic South Africa's first national heritage institution.