SPU Honours the legacy of Kgosi Luka Jantjie

On 17 October 2024, the Faculty of Humanities hosted the Kgosi Luka Jantjie Public Lecture which aims to deepen our understanding of Kgosi Luka Jantjie’s impact and legacy on the broader Northern Cape community and to strengthen collaboration between the Luka Jantjie Foundation and Sol Plaatje University.

The evening began with an exhibition of artefacts depicting key events from the Bechuanaland Wars of the 1800s and the pivotal role Kgosi Luka Jantjie played in protecting his people against British colonialists. The exhibition was facilitated by Ms Sunet Swanepoel, and Ms Portia Genge, both from the McGregor Museum.

Prof Russel Viljoen, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, highlighted the importance of the lecture in fostering critical engagement and disseminating historical knowledge during is welcome address. He paid tribute to the resilience of Kgosi Luka Jantjie, describing him as a steadfast protector of his people.

Mr Tumelo Mpolokeng, CEO of the John Taolo-Gaetsewe Trust, delivered a special message, expressing gratitude to the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the Luka Jantjie Foundation, the McGregor Museum and SPU for preserving the principles and values Kgosi Luka Jantjie lived and died for. He emphasised the enduring relevance of these values, particularly in South Africa’s post-colonial context.

Kgosi Tumo Dikare II Jantjie, leader of the Batlhaping Baga-Phuduhutswana and great-great-grandson of Kgosi Luka Jantjie, emphasised SPU’s role in uniting and sharing knowledge about Luka Jantjie’s history. He remarked, “It is through community partnerships that we all take responsibility for our future, particularly the youth. It is important that the youth understand the vision of the Luka Jantjie Foundation and its goals to help our communities rise and thrive. I appreciate the work SPU has done, especially with this lecture, as it allows us to engage with and learn about our history, helping us understand where we are headed.”

Dr Kevin Shillington, historian, and biographer, delivered the keynote address, recounting his journey in documenting the life of Kgosi Luka Jantjie, a largely forgotten hero of resistance to British colonialism in South Africa. “I collected information about Luka Jantjie for 15 years. I was deeply impressed and inspired by his resilience to colonialism. Many of his people succumbed to colonial pressures, but Luka twice took up arms to defend himself and his people from colonial attacks,” Dr Shillington shared.

SPU remains committed to facilitating community engagement and promoting social responsiveness. Through its ongoing collaboration with the Luka Jantjie Foundation, the University strives to make a significant impact on surrounding communities.

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