The AmaXhosa Royal Council was recently in Stellenbosch to discuss a potential partnership with Stellenbosch University (SU) and e’Bosch Heritage Project to strengthen the value of the Xhosa kingdom’s contribution to the contemporary world.
In a conversation held at the SU Department of Theology last Friday (23 September), Nkosikazi Nobakhe Fufu Sigcau, chairperson of the AmaXhosa Royal Council, flagged the need for research into the history of the kingdom and how its values can be taken into the future.
“We are looking at developing as a kingdom,” she pointed out. “We are fully aware we cannot do it alone. We need to join forces with other people.”
The AmaXhosa Royal Council has to adapt to a new global environment and is seeking the help of universities to do this, explained Paul Khambule, a representative of e’Bosch, an organisation with the mission of forging social inclusion in Stellenbosch and surrounding areas.
In the wake of Heritage Day (Saturday 24 September), Sigcau emphasised the need to document the history of the amaXhosa people to unlock the full wealth of their heritage.
Says Khambule: “There are a lot of distortions in our history, and we believe if as a council we do not leave a legacy of that knowledge then we have failed the AmaXhosa. We need the input of academics, historians and researchers to address this.
“Heritage Day shouldn’t only be about braaing; even when we dance and eat we should talk and always bring people who don’t look like us or walk like us along.
“If you only bring people who look and walk like you then you learn nothing.”
Sigcau mentioned the council had also approached the University of Fort Hare, Nelson Mandela University, Walter Sisulu University and Rhodes University about possibly forging research and development relationships with them.
While she is aware of the perception that SU is a historically “white” university the AmaXhosa Royal Council is prepared to work with any stakeholders who can help to unlock value in the kingdom. The council has recognised SU as an institution that produces outstanding research.
Other than historical documentation, the AmaXhosa Royal Council is seeking input from universities on leadership development, agricultural profiling, and developing sporting talent among others.
Mawethu Nyakatya, manager of community engaged scholarship at SU, believes if the university and AmaXhosa Royal Council are able to get one collaborative project up and running it could serve as a basis for future initiatives.
