Projects in co-authorship with the First Indigenous Peoples of South Africa
A research group led by Dr Magda Minguzzi and composed of 10 First Indigenous Peoples leaders based in Mandela Bay Municipality and vicinity, and staff and students of the Nelson Mandela University School of Architecture, was established in 2015. The working group is committed to community engagement projects that promote reconnecting First Peoples with their heritage sites, and at the same time reformulating and reconstructing a narrative informed by First People themselves. The research applies a transdisciplinary approach and a multi-layered methodology: practice-led research, community participation, influenced by narrative inquiry.
Site visit to Camdeboo National Park, with the Cape Khoi Chiefs. Starting from left: Gaob Thomas Augustus, Gamtobaqua tribe; Chief Xam ≠ Gaob Maleiba, Damasonqua tribe; Dr Magda Minguzzi; the representative Chief of the area Chief Daantjie Japhta, Inqua Camdeboo tribe; Gaos Anna Williams, Gamtouers/Gamktwa tribe (Thornhill/Loerie area). The Leaders reached the upper part of the Valley of Desolation, early in the morning, to re- connect with this highly spiritual place using a cleansing ceremony. The photo was taken by Gaos Margaret Coetzee (Inqua tribe) and portrays the water which is a spiritual element for the Indigenous Peoples inside the pond, in “dove of peace” shape. The Camdeboo is a very important territory because it is part of the geographical area of the Inqa tribe, which is the biggest KhoiSan one, and there was a big settlement in Aberdeen (Photo: Magda Minguzzi).
From 2019 till 2021 the group received the support of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Community Engagement Programme, and from 2020, started to conduct research in Camdeboo and Garden Route National Park. Thanks to the research permit the working group could visit, experience and document First Nation heritage sites located in these parks. It is important to highlight that in some cases, it was the first time that the KhoiSan leaders had the opportunity to visit places of historical importance such as caves and shelters. During these visits the First Nation leaders practised rituals, including cleansing ceremonies, to purify the sites from previous occupation or events and to re-establish the spiritual and cultural bond with it.
The results of the research conducted along the coast of the Eastern Cape have been published by Florence University Press (Italy) in 2021 in a book entitled “THE SPIRIT OF WATER-Practices of Cultural Re-appropriation: Indigenous heritage sites along the coast of the Eastern Cape-South Africa” by Magda Minguzzi. The book highlights the indisputable values of the tangible and intangible indigenous heritage, in the application of processes of cultural re-appropriation that can build a new sense of belonging for the indigenous communities.
Part one of the book traces the regrettable historical circumstances that led to the progressive alienation of the KhoiSan from their heritage. Part Two concerns a significant art performance/ritual which the work group organised and performed at the pre-colonial fish traps site in Cape Recife as part of an international art project. The short film which documents these emotive events is included as a link in the book. Part three concerns the first scientific site survey of three main fish traps sites, done with the involvement of Mandela University students and staff. This section of the book makes reference to the site visits in the Garden Route and Addo Elephant National Park. The themes investigated in the book are extensively accompanied by interviews by the First Indigenous peoples Chiefs, realised during the three years of the research and never published before. It is open source and promotes easy access to education (https://media.fupress.com/files/pdf/24/6108/18132).
In 2021, the 40 min documentary entitled “Origins: an investigation into Khoi-San heritage sites” was produced and launched as a conclusion of the three year project. The documentary contains the interviews of 10 KhoiSan Chiefs, who are acknowledged as co-authors- on their places of belonging, together with a visual exploration of their territories. It is an investigation on the meaning of Indigenous heritage and the sense of belonging of the KhoiSan Peoples, today. These perspectives of the current leaders of this Indigenous group are an invaluable resource for anyone interested in this part of the world. Furthermore, it’s the first time that the KhoiSan Leaders have had the opportunity to freely re-write their story.
The KhoiSan culture has unfortunately been mistreated and repressed for a long time, like many other archaic cultures. This documentary paves the way for further study of a topic until now unexplored in South Africa, and also to the recognition of the identity of the KhoiSan peoples who to date have not received the attention they deserve. Many territories have been included on the documentary as Storm River in Tzitzikamma (the place of the many waters in Khoekhoegowab), Camdeboo, Baviaanskloof and others.
The documentary received the endorsement of important International Institutions, among others, from: IPACC-Indigenous Peoples of Africa Co-ordinating Committee, EC Khoisan Provincial Executive, Wilderness Foundation Africa, ICOMOS-ICHAM, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, and SANParks.
Site visit to Coldstream cave, with (from left) R. Gewers, SANParks rangers, the NMU Master’s student D. Qhamani, J. Joseph (Photo: Magda Minguzzi).
This article was written by Magda Minguzzi and originally published in the 2021/2022 Research Report.
The article is based on the book The Spirit of Water by Magda Minguzzi
Minguzzi, M. 2021. THE SPIRIT OF WATER-Practices of Cultural Re-appropriation: Indigenous heritage sites along the coast of the Eastern Cape-South Africa. Florence University Press, Italy.