Date: 24/09/2005
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Jacobs: Launch of Oral History and Scrapbook Project
Speech by Western Cape MEC for Cultural Affairs, Sport and Recreation, Whitey Jacobs, at the occasion of the launch of Oral History and Scrapbook Project, Caledon
Thank you very much Alderman Fanie Boysen for the introduction.
Programme Director
Executive Mayor of Theewaterskloof - Fanie Boysen,
Speaker of the Overberg District Municipality - Nico August,
Municipal Manager of Swellendam - Trevor Botha,
Honourable Councillors of Overberg District Municipality,
Ladies and gentlemen
Today, South Africans across the length and breadth of our country are celebrating Heritage Day - marking the climax of a month-long programme.
Since the dawn of democracy, through the supreme law of the country, the Constitution and subsequent pieces of legislation, different cultures and cultural practices have not only received recognition but have been afforded a platform for full cultural expression.
We gathered here in that spirit - to celebrate our rich cultural diversity. Taking from the definition of heritage which simple means "all aspects inherited from the past". The Oral History and Scrapbook Project we are launching today is the beginning of a process to record our own heritage for present and future generations.
I want to take this opportunity to pay a special tribute to the staff of the Department for their creative thinking in conceptualising and pioneering this idea of Scrapbook. They conceived this idea out of a desperate need to transform the museums, and give the inhabitants of the Western Cape a chance to state what they regard as their own heritage. The information in this process will be recorded at our museums and be kept as part and parcel of the archival materials.
Ladies and gentlemen, the oral history has been always an integral part of the museums but now we are taking it beyond the walls of museums to communities and to schools in particular. We are saying to communities you now have a chance to reflect your own history and heritage for your future generations.
There's no denying the fact that exhibitions, including family trees exhibited and displayed, at most if not all museums, paint a very skewed picture as if only the colonizers existed in this country.
The other museums are characterised by history associated with the Anglo-Boer War and Great Trek. I am thrilled that through the Scrapbook project, the history of the marginalised communities will eventually take its rightful place.
We have emerged from the brutality of the past whose system ruined cultures of the majority. Not very long ago, we were called names such as Natives, Bantus, Plurals, Bushmen and Hottentots, as part of an orchestrated campaign to denigrate and suppress our cultures and identities. Our stories, cultural practices and rituals were associated with darkness and all attempts were made to degrade our practices.
Unfortunately, there's little or nothing we can do about that sad past but fortunately we can begin now to collect pieces of the puzzle and start to take charge of our future and preserve our legacies. Elderly people, community leaders, academics and educators have many wonderful memories of the past to share with us to contribute to the success of this project.
But, this Oral History and Scrapbook Project will only succeed if our communities are serious about preserving their own cultures and history. I am therefore calling on all the communities of the Western Cape to heed our call and actively assist us in transforming the museums.
What percentage is there if any of the history of Khoisans, Nama and Xhosas in the museums of the Western Cape? How many of us, especially nowadays, know intimately about their own family tree, how our forefathers lived, what they ate, what medicines if any did they use?
The question of moral decay and lack of respect from our youth is very foreign to African cultures and traditions.
The unprecedented levels of criminal activity waged by the youth could be attributed to among other things to the lack of respect for human dignity.
Our forefathers were illiterate, because they never went to school. However, their stories were so full of teachings and wisdom. Education was not formal and yet teachings through storytelling girls and boys were crafted to be respectful and dignified women and men. Sadly, we don't have those archives to see the lifestyles of our great grand fathers, our roots- thanks to our colonial masters.
We are now firmly on route to re-discover ourselves as a nation. This project is like planting a tree. A tree is very important in our lives to provide us with oxygen, help delay soil erosion and it is shelter for needy days.
From the point of view of the Department, we have a responsibility to water this tree there by making sure that every corner of the Province is afforded a platform to record their own heritage. Like the example of the tree with fully developed leaves and branches, we want each and every different culture available to be given space and celebrated in through spirit of a home for all.
I have been informed that in due course, other museums in our jurisdiction will soon be rolled out.
So, the onus is on our communities to take full advantage of this initiative to ensure all that is important to them is captured and stored.
It gives me great pleasure to officially open the Scrapbook Project.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Cultural Affairs, Sport and Recreation, Western Cape Provincial Government 24 September 2005
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Jacobs: Launch of Oral History and Scrapbook Project
Speech by Western Cape MEC for Cultural Affairs, Sport and Recreation, Whitey Jacobs, at the occasion of the launch of Oral History and Scrapbook Project, Caledon
Thank you very much Alderman Fanie Boysen for the introduction.
Programme Director
Executive Mayor of Theewaterskloof - Fanie Boysen,
Speaker of the Overberg District Municipality - Nico August,
Municipal Manager of Swellendam - Trevor Botha,
Honourable Councillors of Overberg District Municipality,
Ladies and gentlemen
Today, South Africans across the length and breadth of our country are celebrating Heritage Day - marking the climax of a month-long programme.
Since the dawn of democracy, through the supreme law of the country, the Constitution and subsequent pieces of legislation, different cultures and cultural practices have not only received recognition but have been afforded a platform for full cultural expression.
We gathered here in that spirit - to celebrate our rich cultural diversity. Taking from the definition of heritage which simple means "all aspects inherited from the past". The Oral History and Scrapbook Project we are launching today is the beginning of a process to record our own heritage for present and future generations.
I want to take this opportunity to pay a special tribute to the staff of the Department for their creative thinking in conceptualising and pioneering this idea of Scrapbook. They conceived this idea out of a desperate need to transform the museums, and give the inhabitants of the Western Cape a chance to state what they regard as their own heritage. The information in this process will be recorded at our museums and be kept as part and parcel of the archival materials.
Ladies and gentlemen, the oral history has been always an integral part of the museums but now we are taking it beyond the walls of museums to communities and to schools in particular. We are saying to communities you now have a chance to reflect your own history and heritage for your future generations.
There's no denying the fact that exhibitions, including family trees exhibited and displayed, at most if not all museums, paint a very skewed picture as if only the colonizers existed in this country.
The other museums are characterised by history associated with the Anglo-Boer War and Great Trek. I am thrilled that through the Scrapbook project, the history of the marginalised communities will eventually take its rightful place.
We have emerged from the brutality of the past whose system ruined cultures of the majority. Not very long ago, we were called names such as Natives, Bantus, Plurals, Bushmen and Hottentots, as part of an orchestrated campaign to denigrate and suppress our cultures and identities. Our stories, cultural practices and rituals were associated with darkness and all attempts were made to degrade our practices.
Unfortunately, there's little or nothing we can do about that sad past but fortunately we can begin now to collect pieces of the puzzle and start to take charge of our future and preserve our legacies. Elderly people, community leaders, academics and educators have many wonderful memories of the past to share with us to contribute to the success of this project.
But, this Oral History and Scrapbook Project will only succeed if our communities are serious about preserving their own cultures and history. I am therefore calling on all the communities of the Western Cape to heed our call and actively assist us in transforming the museums.
What percentage is there if any of the history of Khoisans, Nama and Xhosas in the museums of the Western Cape? How many of us, especially nowadays, know intimately about their own family tree, how our forefathers lived, what they ate, what medicines if any did they use?
The question of moral decay and lack of respect from our youth is very foreign to African cultures and traditions.
The unprecedented levels of criminal activity waged by the youth could be attributed to among other things to the lack of respect for human dignity.
Our forefathers were illiterate, because they never went to school. However, their stories were so full of teachings and wisdom. Education was not formal and yet teachings through storytelling girls and boys were crafted to be respectful and dignified women and men. Sadly, we don't have those archives to see the lifestyles of our great grand fathers, our roots- thanks to our colonial masters.
We are now firmly on route to re-discover ourselves as a nation. This project is like planting a tree. A tree is very important in our lives to provide us with oxygen, help delay soil erosion and it is shelter for needy days.
From the point of view of the Department, we have a responsibility to water this tree there by making sure that every corner of the Province is afforded a platform to record their own heritage. Like the example of the tree with fully developed leaves and branches, we want each and every different culture available to be given space and celebrated in through spirit of a home for all.
I have been informed that in due course, other museums in our jurisdiction will soon be rolled out.
So, the onus is on our communities to take full advantage of this initiative to ensure all that is important to them is captured and stored.
It gives me great pleasure to officially open the Scrapbook Project.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Cultural Affairs, Sport and Recreation, Western Cape Provincial Government 24 September 2005
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