Mampoer occupies a distinct place within South Africa's material and intangible heritage, reflecting the agricultural adaptability of frontier communities and the resilience of craft traditions under shifting regulatory regimes. While widely recognised in popular culture, its documented history remains comparatively thin.
BOOK REVIEWS
‘Geomotional’ is a remarkable and beautifully illustrated exploration of – as the sub-title says – ‘Geometric art, past and present’. The book, which has us journey through images, words, poetry and song, and gives account of a ‘performance-installation’, is compiled by Mary Elizabeth Lange, who is prolific in her writings on Indigenous art and story, and various intersections with heritage.
BLUE PLAQUES
Known by his supporters as “Lion of Azania”, Mothopeng was a teacher, intellectual, political prisoner and stalwart of the Pan–African Congress (PAC). His political activism spanned a turbulent half-century of resistance to white domination, from the early 1940s until his death in 1990.