Dr Nyamende from UCT talking about Iziduko - the Clan names
In order to explore the context within which our portraits exist, we talked to Dr Abner Nyamende, one of the custodians of African heritage. You can listen to his insight on the value of the Clan names, the meaning of ancestors and a host of other topics regarding Iziduko.
Dr Nyamende introduces himself
To put Clan names in context and gain some perspective, Dr Nyamende explained about African indigenous knowledge.
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Dr Nyamende explains the concept of Clan names.
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Dr Nyamende explains the practicalities of Clan names and marriage.
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Clan names as source for identity.
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Dr Nyamende explains the signifigance of Ancestors.
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Dr Nyamende explains the relevance of ancestors in modern day society.
Inkokhelo... 'guidance' is the name that we have chosen for this project about Clan names and our heritage. We chose the name because to us, that is what our Ancestors signify in our daily existence, however we are very much aware that there are various perceptions and understandings of one's ancestors. We have chosen photography combined with written text of 'Iziduko' to be our method of expressing our celebration of the ancestors as well as a method of lifting up the spirits of those who are following the footsteps of their fore fathers.
We do not claim to be authorities on any deep knowledge of this particular subject, nor do we want to come across as such, our interest is to invoke the great spirits that lead and guide us and to create an inspiration for all who come into contact with this. We hope to rekindle the fire in our souls that exists within us as a result of our connectedness to others. We have heard the saying 'Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu', and in this spirit, we hope to remind the people that one is never alone, there are connections. We hope that this will also serve as a reminder of where we come from, who came before us and continue to live a legacy for our children and our children's children.
Inkokhelo, is but a vehicle amongst many, that aims to celebrate the spirit of our fore mothers and fore fathers, may we be continuously under this guidance.
We hope to capture the interest of many and are very open to suggestions and advice on how we can add more value to this rather remarkable project we are embarking on. Welcome to the journey!
What do we mean by Portraits?
Portrait of you is about you, but who are you? The meaning of this question is not to be rude or argue whether you are worthy of portrait; you certainly are, but what is it that describes you? It is a question of identity and pride of yourself. That is the reason why we want to add a new aspect to more traditional way of having an image of yourself; Your clan name. Not everyone has a clan name, but the design around and within your portrait can be anything from your favorite quote, mantra or just your philosophy. What makes you say, “Yes, that's me!”
What is that for you? Let us know and we can make your most personal photograph, printed on canvas poster size.