Historic Broster beadwork collection unveiled

Walter Sisulu University officially unveiled the historic Broster Beadwork Collection, which dates back to 1932, in Mthatha yesterday.

The beadworks were collected between 1952 and 1966 by Ngcobo-born Joan Broster and sold to the University of Transkei in 1992.

Rhodes University professor Russel Kaschula, who was working at Unitra at the time, was one of the people who worked hard to acquire the collection.

Made up of at least 3000 items from the amaMpondomise, amaMpondo, amaBomvana, amaXesibe and abaThembu nations, the collection was declared a heritage object by the South Africa Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra). This means the collection is under the protection of the government.

It is now housed in its own building where it will be kept for research purposes.

Being declared a heritage object means that:

lNo person may destroy, damage, disfigure, alter or disperse any part of it without a permit;

lNo person may carry out any work of restoration or repair on it without a permit;

lNo person may export or attempt to export it from South Africa without a permit;

Sahra may, at its discretion, assist in funding any restoration or repair work undertaken by an approved conservator. Various items including mirrors placed in tins, matchboxes and ankle bracelets are kept safely in drawers while others are on display tables.

National Heritage Council CEO Sonwabile Mancotywa said the collection will form part of the Nelson Mandela Heritage Route.

“This is part of discovering who we are – our identity, which attests to the fact that our heritage is very old, it is more than 4.5billion years old. Works like these are very important because they go a long way in decolonising our African heritage – we have inherited a distorted heritage and knowledge,” said Mancotywa.

Vuyiswa Lusu, who was instrumental in getting the collection declared by Sahra, said: “It is a national asset – no one can touch it. If you want to see it, you make an appointment. We do not treat it as a museum.”

Sahra CEO Veliswa Gabuza said the agency’s role was to protect all national heritage resources and that anyone who might “sneak” any of the protected resources out of the country may be criminally charged.

OR Tambo executive mayor Nomakhosazana Meth said the collection would help young bead workers learn more about their heritage and the type of beads worn by different people. “Heritage can bring tourism, and change in our area,” she said. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za