Many thanks to the Odeion School of Music at the University of the Free State, South Africa for hosting me as guest lecturer this past week. Spending time with the BA and BMus students at different levels was just amazing. To Dr. A. David Nkosi, thank you for your vision and Pan African outlook on musical arts education. Mrs Angelique Novella, thank you for the enriching engagements. Prof. Neo Lekgotla Laga Ramoupi, thank you for taking us to house 802 in Brandford where Mam Winnie Madikizela Mandela was banished to, a reminder of how crucial it is to preserve histories of women. Thank you for your constant mentorship and support. Till next time.
What does it take to safeguard cultural memory while still moving design forward?
Mbali Mthethwa and Dr Motsane Seabela share insights on how craft and cultural memory can be preserved, reinterpreted, and carried forward, sparking conversations around heritage, responsibility, and innovation in contemporary design.
🧡 Mbali Mthethwa, Founder and Designer of @theherd.studio , shares how she transforms Zulu Nguni beadwork into contemporary wearable art that honours ancestry without freezing it in time. Her work proves that tradition is not static, it is alive and evolving.
🧡 Dr Motsane Seabela, Curator of Anthropology at @ditsongmuseumssa , brings the institutional lens. With oversight of more than 25 000 cultural objects, her work centres on stewardship, research and ensuring knowledge travels across generations with care.
Together with fellow contributors, this session unpacks how craft can evolve without losing its core, and how designers can create work that resonates now while remaining rooted in lineage.
đź“ŤKramerville Design District
🗓️ 24–25 March
🎟️ Registration and more info are available on our site via the link in bio.
@theherd.studio@craft_and_design_institute@jozi_my_jozi@w_rseta@gautengsacr@joburg_artsalive@kramervilledesigndistrict@katyspalacebar@levelthreevenue@iqoqo_za@timesliveza@designweeksouthafrica@dsbd_sa #MakingIt2026 #SouthAfricanMakers #CreativeEconomy #CraftAndDesign #DesignInnovation #CreativeLeaders #CDI
We shall do everything in our power towards the return of our ancestors and all that belongs to them to the African continent. Restitution work in Switzerland!
Do join us at the DITSONG National Museum of Cultural History in Pretoria, South Africa on 3 July 2025 as we deal with the Land Question through a lecture by Dr Mbuso Nkosi, author of 'These Potatoes Look Like Humans: The Contested Future of Land, Home and Death in South Africa'. We'll also be screening Prof. Siona O’Connell's film, 'An Impossible Return' which deals with Cape Town's forced removals. Hope to see you. IZWE LETHU!✊🏾
Do join us at DITSONG National Museum of Cultural History Museum on 3 July 2025 as we deal with the Land Question through a lecture by Dr Mbuso Nkosi, author of 'These Potatoes Look Like Humans: The contested future of land, home and death in South Africa'. We'll also be screening Prof. Siona O’Connell's film, 'An Impossible Return' which deals with Cape Town's forced removals. Hope to see you. IZWE LETHU!
On March 2021, I embarked on a doctoral journey which I completed in November 2024. On 21 May 2025 my PhD in Heritage and Museums Studies entitled "Not just a Supporting Act or a Backing Vocalist: Locating Gertrude Shope in the Memory and Heritage of the Liberation Struggle in South Africa: Towards a Biography" was on 21 May 2025 conferred in a graduation ceremony at the University of Pretoria. The thesis critically assesses the sidelining of women in the memory and heritage of the liberation struggle in South Africa by tracing Gertrude Shope’s contribution and weaves the different aspects of her life towards her biography.  The thesis contends that the African National Congress (ANC) has played a role in marginalising women in memorialisation initiatives post-apartheid, thus there need to be concerted efforts to ensure that the heritagescape reflects a true picture of those who have played a significant role.
Conceptually, the thesis is framed through the African feminist imagination which emphasises that by making women speak and visible is to expose history’s silences and gaps.On 22 May 2025, a day after my graduation ceremony. Koko (as I would call her),transitioned. She would have turned 100 on 15 August 2025. It has been such an honour writing part of her life story since 2021.Condolences once more to her family, friends, colleagues and comrades. This feels like a full circle moment. I'm eternally grateful to Koko Gertrude Shope, her, family and everyone who thus far generously shared their stories with and on her. As I continue with writing your biography, I hope to do justice to your life story. Rest in power MaShope!!✊🏿❤️
On Wednesday 26 March 2025 together with the Department of Sports Arts and Culture we (DITSONG National Museum of Cultural History-DITSONGMuseumsofSouthAfrica)launched "The Beautiful Things" exhibition, a crafts showcase which resulted in part, from the National Craft Incubator Program featuring nine crafters from all South African provinces. Additionally a crafts outlet was installed on the same day with stock sourced from crafters across the country. Do visit us at the DITSONG National Museum of Cultural History @ditsongmuseumssa
Heartfelt gratitude to our incredible panelists Motsane Seabela, Steven Sacks, Puleng Plessie, and Gillian Fleischmann (moderator) and attendees for joining us at the Noria Mabasa Carving Histories conversation to reflect on the monumental sculpture Union Building and its artist on 21 March. Your presence and insights made this gathering a powerful celebration of artistry and legacy of Mam Noria Mabasa. We also thank the support of Canada Fund for Local Initiatives that made the conversation possible.
For those who have not witnessed the sculpture, there’s still some chance as it remains on view in our exhibition We, The Purple.
