Come discover and explore one of South Africa’s best kept secrets. Experience the language, history, natural beauty, activism and culture of the Northern Cape like it has never been showcased before this Heritage Month.
The Inaugural Dit is ‘n Noord-Kaap ding (It’s a Northern Cape Thing) colloquium is a collaboration between the Sol Plaatje University (SPU), the University of the Western Cape (UWC), and the Northern Cape Provincial Government. It takes place from 20 – 22 September 2021 at SPU.
The colloquium was initiated and spearheaded by UWC lecturer Dr Lorato Mokwena, a lecturer at UWC’s Linguistics Department.
“The Northern Cape province has a deep-rooted history, an evolving present state and it is blessed with amazing natural aesthetics and resources. It is home to a diverse population of people and languages. This is what inspired the idea of initiating a colloquium about the Northern Cape,” she says.
The inaugural launch of the colloquium kicks-off on Monday, 20 September 2021 at which time the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of SPU, Prof Andrew Crouch, the Rector of UWC, Prof Tyrone Pretorius, as well as the Premier of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul, will address the audience.
On 21 September, the colloquium focuses on language, activism and culture. The day commences with the screening of Aboxan Dommi (Ancestor’s Voice), as well as the first episode of Hom!gan di Namdi (Tongues of Angels) by Bradley van Sitters and Memory Biwa. The presentations will focus on the |khâba ra (Rieldans); Orality and Place-naming in Northern Cape towns; the preservation of Khoekhoegowab and the Bushman (San) culture. The programme will include a presentation by the Eyethu Pop-up Library.
The final day of the colloquium explores History, Nature and Conservation. Topics to be explored on this day include the legacies of copper mining in Namaqualand; the deeper pasts in the Northern Cape, agrisyncretic knowledge and Namaqualand herders; Sol T. Plaatje’s Northern Cape and Black civilians and combatants that hailed from the Kimberley Region during the South African War.
Be part of the journey that begins on 20 September 2021 by clicking on the following MS Teams links:
Day 1: shorturl.at/ghtzD
Day 2: https://msteams.link/MAPD
Day 3: https://msteams.link/HOHT
You can download the colloquium programmes below:
Day 1 – 20 September 2021: Official Opening Evening
Day 2 – 21 September 2021: Language, Activism and Culture
Day 3 – 22 September 2021: History, Nature and Conservation
