Establishment
The Ulwazi Programme was established by Betsie Greyling in 2008 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is unique in that it is the first project of its kind in South Africa to promote a democratised policy in co-creating cultural and historical information with people from local communities. ‘Fieldworkers’ from local communities in and around Durban are trained to use basic digital media tools and web platforms. They then write – in Zulu and English – on cultural and historical topics relating to the city of Durban and areas within the eThekwini Municipality. The result is the Ulwazi Programme – a website of locally relevant content in local languages.
Ukusungulwa
Ulwazi Programme lwasungulwa nguBetsie Greyling ngonyaka ka-2008 eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, eNingizimu Afrika. Yehlukile ngoba ingumsebenzi wokuqala walolu hlobo eNingizimu Afrika ukukhuthaza inqubomgomo yentando yeningi ekwakheni ngokubambisana ulwazi ngamasiko nangomlando wabantu abavela emiphakathini wendawo. ‘Abasebenzi’ abavela emiphakathini yasendaweni engaphansi eThekwini baqeqeshelwe ukusebenzisa ubuchwepheshe bedijithali yemidiya nezinkundla zewebhu. Bese bebhala – ngesiZulu nangeSingisi – ngezihloko zamasiko nezomlando eziphathelene nedolobha laseThekwini nezindawo ezingaphansi kukaMasipala weTheku. Ileso isizathu esenze iwebhusayithi ye-Ulwazi Programme ikhethe ukubhala ngezilimi zendawo.
Local History Museums Project
In the form of newspaper-style articles, the project covers:
- People
- Places
- Food
- History
- Music
- Culture
The Ulwazi Programme has recorded numerous aspects of local history and culture including oral histories, family histories, aspects of material culture unique to the Durban area and a wealth of cultural practices relating to food, rites of passage, ceremonies and celebrations, amongst other things. It is seen, and used, as a valuable source of local information, as a platform for dialogue and the exchange of ideas.
Iphrojekthi Yeminyuziyemu Yomlando Wendawo
Ngama-athikili ayisitayela sephephandaba, iphrojekthi ikhuluma:
- Abantu
- Izindawo
- Ukuhla
- Umlando
- Umculo
- Amasiko
Ulwazi Programme lunamarekhodi emikhakha eminingi yomlando namasiko endawo ebandakanya imilando yomlomo, imilando yomndeni, izici zamasiko ahlukile endaweni yaseThekwini kanye nengcebo yamasiko ahlobene nokudla, imicikilisho yokuhamba, imikhosi/imicimbi kanye nokugujwa kwayo. Iyabonakala, futhi iyasetshenziswa njengomthombo wolwazi obalulekile wezakhamuzi, njengenkundla yezingxoxo nokushintshana ngemibono.
Achievements
Below are some of the project main achievements:
- Established digital library of local history and knowledge in English and Zulu – over 2000 articles in Zulu and English.
- Trained over 20 fieldworkers in digital media management and digital skills.
- Collaborated with, and gave training to, students at four underserviced peri-urban and rural schools.
- Promoted digital and reading literacy by providing access to a locally relevant resource in a local language.
Impumelelo
Ngezansi amaphrojekthi eziwe ngempumelelo:
- Ukusungulwa kwedijithali yomtapo womlando nolwazi lwendawo ngesiNgisi kanye nesiZulu – ama-athikili angaphezu kuka-2000 esiZulu nesiNgisi.
- Ukuqeqeshwa kwabasenzi abangu-20 ekuphathweni kwedijithali midiya kanye namakhono edijithali.
- Ngokubambisana, futhi baqeqesha abafundi bezikole ezine ebezinganakekelwe eziseduze nedolobha.
- Kuthuthukiswe idijithali nokufunda ngokufinyelelisa izinsizakusebenza ezilusizo ngolimi lwendawo.
Value
The Ulwazi Programme fulfils a vital role by preserving and sharing local knowledge. Much of the information that you find on the Ulwazi website has been collected over the years by our fieldworkers who have recorded the perspectives of people in their communities and changing culture within the eThekwini Municipality.
For the most part these articles are published on the website in the form of of articles written by the fieldworkers but from time to time videos are also recorded. These short films provide wonderful insight into the history of both everyday people and prominent members of communities within eThekwini. Visit the Ulwazi YouTube channel to view some of them.
Injongo
Ulwazi Programme lufeza indima ebalulekile ngokugcina nokwabelana ngolwazi lwendawo. Ulwazi oluningi oluthola kuwebhusayithi ye-Ulwazi luqoqwe eminyakeni edlule ngabasebenzi bethu bezinkundla ezirekhode imibono yabantu emiphakathini yabo kanye nokushintsha amasiko eThekwini.
Inxenye yalama-athikili akwiwebhusayithi yethu abhalwe abasebenzi kodwa kwesinye isikhathi kuqoshwa amavidiyo. Lawa mavidiyo amafushane akwenza uqonde kancono ngomlando wabo bonke abantu namalungu aqavile emiphakathini weTheku. Vakashela i- Ulwazi YouTube channel ukubona amanye awo.
Stay connected
Stay connected with the Ulwazi Programme on:
Hlala wazi okwenzeka ku-Ulwazi Programme ngalamakhasi: