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By now, Robben Island has captured the attention of millions of people, and there is no doubt that it will continue to draw attention from many more, especially now that that it has been designated as a World Heritage Site. The reason for this historic attention is largely because of the island's association with Nelson Mandela, the first African president of postapartheid South Africa. It is where Mandela and other African freedom fighters were imprisoned. The significance of this island cannot fully be recognized unless it is recognized that attention is also drawn to those whose attention is drawn to it. The initial attention is directed to the island but, ultimately, if this attention were to follow its natural course, it would lead to paying attention to those who pay attention to it. In other words, this island has a significance that leads beyond it as a way of leading to itself. This island, after all, is an island for us and, as such, it ought to illuminate something about us. The island is an illuminated illuminator. It is a territory that goes beyond everyday geography as a way of being itself. To be under its illumination is to see it as more than a Mandela site. It is a site for each and every one of us. What this implies is not clear. Hopefully, what follows will be a contribution to this intoxicating illumination.

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-52560-0_9

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