Growing up as a person of color during South Africa’s Apartheid era, it was not long before Lionel Davis developed an antagonism towards the oppression of white authority and found himself politically involved in the anti-Apartheid struggle. In 1964, Lionel was arrested and sentenced to seven years on Robben Island for conspiring to commit acts of sabotage. He was held in a solitary cell with the likes of Nelson Mandela. After his release, he was restricted under a banning order and placed under house arrest until 1976. After suffering a mental breakdown from his trauma under house arrest, he found solace and healing through art, which led him to complete a degree in Fine Arts at the University of Cape Town in For many years, Lionel lived on Robben Island, working as an Educational Officer at the Robben Island Museum for 10 years. Today, he continues to create art, write memoirs, participate in community projects, and share his inspiring stories with us.
