This undoubtedly marks an important milestone in the transformation of this great institution. Having been assailed by the vagaries of change, trials and tribulations through the last few years, the full potential of the institution is ready to be unleashed again for the benefit of the people of this region and the country. Fort Hare occupies a very special place in the collective memory of our people as well as in the history of intellectual and political development of this country. The establishment of Fort Hare postdates the formation of the oldest liberation movement by four years, having been established in 1916 as a missionary teaching college. It is also through no historical quirk that this institution was formed by such luminaries as Pixlex Ka Seme, John Tengo Jabavu, etc, who themselves were pivotal in the formation of the African National Native Congress in 1912 to fight for the freedom of the oppressed masses of South Africa in the then Union of South Africa.
Fort Hare represents so much that is noble, courageous and pathbreaking.
It served as a beacon of light during the dark, dark of apartheid misrule and the remarkable list of leaders across the African continent that came to further their studies here from Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, ZK Matthews to Robert Mugabe, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, etc. They came not only to enhance their academic knowledge, but also more importantly to be organic intellectuals who sought to further the cause of liberation on the African continent. It served as an important precursor of the African Renaissance we are pursuing in this epoch for the renewal and advancement of our respective countries. This fearless and undaunted intellectual endeavours to ensure that the people shall govern, need now to be transformed into the pursuit of productive knowledge for the creation of a better life for all and to consolidate our democratic processes and institutions in our society. It is surely in recognition of this important contribution that all the major liberation movements, including the African National Congress, has deposited its archives at Fort Hare.