As I stood before the display cabinets in Special Collections, my eyes were drawn to a vibrant selection of books that seemed to whisper stories from the past. Each title represented a different piece of the intricate puzzle that makes up our national heritage – capturing the essence of cultures across Africa and beyond.
Heritage Month offers South Africans a moment to reflect on and celebrate the cultural diversity that defines our nation. It is a time to honour the histories, traditions, and contributions of the various communities that have shaped the country’s identity.
In celebration of this important month, Pakama Ncume, Junior Librarian in Special Collections, curated a captivating display of books from the Africana Collection. These books were thoughtfully selected to highlight a range of cultures, including African, Indian, and Coloured communities.
According to Pakama, the selection was made with the intent to offer a glimpse into the wealth of cultural knowledge contained within the collection. “The idea was to provide a teaser—something that would spark interest and encourage people to learn more about the different cultures that form the fabric of our nation,” she said.
Below are some of the titles and authors featured in the display, each one offering a unique perspective on the rich and diverse heritage of South Africa.
List of exhibited books – Heritage month
- African Elegance by Alice Mertens and Joan A. Broster.
- AmaNdebele by Peter Magubane and Sandra Klopper.
- Coloured: How Classification Became Culture by Tessa Dooms and Lynsey Ebony Chutel.
- Cultures of South Africa: A Celebration by Peter Joyce, Roger De la Harpe and Pat De la Harpe.
- Ditema: Some Decorated Sotho Buildings by Pieter Jolly.
- Many Lives:150 Years of Being Indian in South Africa by Goolam H. Vahed, Ashwin Desai and Thembisa Waetjen.
- Vanishing Cultures of South Africa: Changing Customs in a Changing World by Peter Magubane.
- The Zulu: Traditional Customs and Culture by John Hone, Jeannie Mather, Karen Fair and Andrea Florens.
In addition to the books on display, Special Collections also houses a rich collection of manuscripts and rare books that explore the diverse heritage of South Africa. Here are a few noteworthy examples from these collections:
Maguire San Ethnobotanical Collection
https://library.sun.ac.za/en-za/announcements/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=203
This is a collection of data collected by Mr Brian Maguire and his wife, Dr Judy Maguire between 1954 and 1975 in close collaboration San communities (!Kung, Haillom, lXoo, and Naro) in the Kalahari. It is a digital collection and consist of manuscripts; typescripts; sketches; diagrams; photographic prints; black and white negatives; colour slides; field notebooks and plant collection registers. The information is available for research purposes on the Library’s Digital Heritage Repository, SUNDigital Collections at https://digital.lib.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.2/15524.
H.J. Bahr Collection
https://digital.lib.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.2/15088
The H.J. Bahr collection consists of documents regarding mission work in Southern Africa of the Berlin Mission Society, collected by Herbert Julius Bahr. The collection contains correspondence with theologians and scientists; illustrations of Bushman paintings in the Drakensberg; poems and water-colours by Bahr.
Botanical Illustrations of the Cape
Rudolf Marloth Collection
https://digital.lib.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.2/14646
The collection consists of correspondence; lists of publications; clippings; photos; sketches; personalia and the original botanical illustrations prepared for printing between 1912 and 1932 in Rudolf Marloth’s Flora of South Africa. The 176 plates have been digitized (available on SUNDigital) and was done by botanical artists such as Ethel May Dixie (1876-1973), Esther Smith (1878-1954), Florence Amy Thwaits and Peter McManus, with handwritten notes and instructions for the printers by Marloth.
Vernacular Architecture
James Walton Collection:
https://digital.lib.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.2/312
This collection focus on vernacular architecture in South Africa and consist of documents with contributions by James Walton and other authors on African ethnology, vernacular architecture and conservation/ preservation. It includes books; encyclopaedias; periodicals; pamphlets; newsletters; lectures; portfolios; albums; slides; photos; sketches; plans; newspaper clippings; reports; surveys; maps; charts; plans; etc.
A selection of his work can be viewed at: SUNDigital: https://digital.lib.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.2/312
Andre Pretorius Collection
https://digital.lib.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.2/15241
Andre Pretorius collection which consists of material collected by André Pretorius (1935-2006), author, photographer and conservationist. The material pertains mainly to the areas in the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape. The collection contains photographs; newspaper clippings; articles; brochures and correspondence.
A selection of his work can be viewed at: SUNDigital: https://digital.lib.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.2/870
Joanna Marx Collection
https://sun.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/27US_INST/1itjhcu/alma990007981940803436
This collection consists of South African heritage material, mainly SAHRA (old NMC) as well as UK material. There is a large section of material pertaining to mills (South Africa, UK and the Netherlands). Pamphlets; brochures; newsletters; lecture notes; portfolios; albums; photos; sketches; plans; newspaper clippings; conservation/preservation of buildings; reports; surveys and miscellaneous information; maps; charts and plans form a large part of the collection.
Francois Smuts Collection
https://digital.lib.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.2/5911
This collection consists of correspondence; lectures; photographs; articles; clippings; manuscripts of “Stellenbosch three centuries” and “Die grondeienaars van Stellenbosch” https://digital.lib.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.2/5911
This display served as a reminder of the many layers of heritage that we are fortunate to share and celebrate as a nation. It stood as an invitation to explore, learn, and appreciate the cultures that continue to enrich our society.
Learn more about SU Library Special Collections on their libguide: https://libguides.sun.ac.za/special_collection
Theresa Schoeman