South African Heritage - Where we come from?

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Brian Lockyer                       History _ Heritage Assignment                 February 2008

Activity 1

1) What do the figures in Source A show about the type of heritage valued in South Africa before 1989?

The figures tell us that before 1989 the majority of national heritage monuments were of Dutch and European descent.  The type of heritage that was valued was definitely the heritage of the old colonials (Dutch and British) as well as the Boer and Huguenot.  The heritage of the native Africans was virtually non existent which was understandable before 1989 as the apartheid government was still in power and they would not have recognized the Africans and other indigenous people as being a valuable part of South African heritage.

2) Which categories of heritage identified in Source B are represented in the monuments listed in Source C? (Refer to all the places listed in Source C for your answer)

Mapungubwe Hill – Historical settlements and townscapes.

Ndebele Home – Places, buildings, structures and equipment of cultural significance.

Graves of Sicelo Mhlauli, Fort Calata etc. – Graves and burial grounds

Thulamela – Places where oral traditions are attached or which are associated with living heritage.

Umbilo Shree Ambal V Anar Ala Y Am – Places, buildings, structures and equipment of cultural significance.

Bokaap in Cape town – Sites of significance relating to the history of slavery in South Africa.

Rock paintings – Archaeological or palaeontological sites.

3) By comparing the monuments listed in Sources A and C, explain the changes that have taken place in the definition of heritage in South Africa since 1989?

Before 1989 African heritage sites were not fully recognized by the Apartheid government, this is evident in Source A as only three percent of all heritage sites in South Africa were Black and indigenous heritage sites.  The Apartheid government only commemorated the history of white South Africans and therefore black heritage sites were viewed with having little significance to the History of South Africa.  Many of the recognized black and indigenous heritage sites before 1989 were rock art sites.  Source C shows how the mindset since 1989 has changed.  Black and Indigenous heritage sites are now what make up the main chunk of South African heritage and they are reminders of how far we have come as a nation and how far we can go in the future.  

Activity 2

1) Study Sources D, E and F, and the information in the text. Explain how each of these sources show some of the controversies which surround who controls heritage. Refer to all three sources.

Source D gives us valuable insight into the problems and divisions that are caused when people’s heritage is ignored ‘The Ndebele, their proud history of resistance is ignored by the new South Africa’s current public holiday’s’.  This source highlights the potential problems that may arise if specific people and their heritages are not acknowledged.  The bottom line is that heritage is a vital part of a nation’s identity and everyone wants to be part of it, this could possible lead to divisions and conflicts amongst millions of people.  Source E tells us about the Miscast exhibition and how it created fury and outrage amongst the many descendants of the Khoisan.  People were furious that such as exhibition showing the mistreatments and brutality that was suffered by the Khoisan at the hands of the Europeans ‘We were exposed to yet another attempt to treat brown people as objects’.  This again prompts the question, who controls heritage? Some people would see the Miscast exhibition as a good thing that shows the younger generations the history of our indigenous people.  The exhibition shows what the Khoisan had to go through to lay the foundations for the new South Africa; on the other hand many people would see the exhibition as a bad idea that just creates more pain and suffering amongst all modern day descendants.

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Source F is an extract from the Cape Times and it again creates controversy about who controls heritage, some people would argue for the analysis of the remains in order to determine who these mystery people were whereas many people would be against it as they will want the bones to be buried again in accordance to traditional beliefs.

2) What is significant about the title of the exhibition Miscast?

The significance of the title ‘Miscast’ is that the Khoisan were cast off from the rest of society by the colonials.  The Khoisan were subjected to extreme ...

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