Ulwazi Fieldworkers: January 2019

It seems unbelievable that the first month of the year has come and gone already! But with January behind us, we look forward to the month of love! With this in mind, Siboniso Langa’s articles about lobola negotiations seem particularly fitting! January’s stories also featured music and dance. Follow the links below to read about the … Read more

Ulwazi Fieldworkers: December

While all eyes are on Africa and talk of an African Renaissance abounds, there are still many naysayers out there who view African customs and traditions as archaic, and in opposition to development. This month Nkosikhona Duma set about debunking some of the myths, and correcting the inaccuracies that surround issues such as traditional healers, and the … Read more

Ulwazi Fieldworkers: November

Every year, as part of their African Music and Dance Programme, the University of KwaZulu-Natal hosts the African Cultural Calabash. Started in 2006, the annual concert combines the wonders of African cuisine with performances from local musicians who wow guests with everything from contemporary isicathamiya acts to renditions of tarditionals compositions from the likes of the late Princess … Read more

Ulwazi Fieldworkers: October

While the topics covered by our fieldworkers this month were wide and varied, the majority of the stories had a dominant theme, that of performance art. Whether it’s a poem bemoaning the prevalence of gender-based violence in South Africa, or a recording of young children singing songs while they play traditional games, Zulu speakers celebrate … Read more

Introducing Nkosikhona

The work that Nkosikhona Duma carries out as a fieldworker for the Ulwazi Programme is the perfect extension of his academic studies, which focus on communication and culture. Nkosikhona holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences, with majors in Community Development and Media and Cultural Studies, and is currently enrolled as a BSc Honours student in the … Read more

Introducing Siboniso

Siboniso Mbongisen Langa has been part of the Ulwazi team for the past two years, contributing articles every month in his role as a fieldworker. In addition to being a contributing author for the Ulwazi Programme, Siboniso is also a practicing poet and Development Practitioner, and works as an intern at the National Heritage Council. … Read more