Preserving Mamelodi’s Rich Heritage
Digital Archive: Preserving Mamelodi’s Rich Heritage
Reviving Mamelodi’s history, the Historical Society of Mamelodi was established by Reverend Chris Nkomo and local residents, dedicated to preserving the community’s heritage. Partnering with the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Mamelodi Campus and its Department of Historical and Heritage Studies, their effort to digitally capture the township’s legacy has gained momentum.
“We want our children to understand where we come from,” shared Nkomo, emphasizing the importance of sharing Mamelodi’s stories. Founded in the early 1950s as a segregated area for black South Africans under apartheid’s Group Areas Act, Mamelodi (“mother of melodies”) is steeped in history. The relocation of black residents from Pretoria suburbs in 1960 remains a pivotal moment in the community’s story.
Nkomo’s journey to preserve Mamelodi’s history started after he completed UP’s Starting and Sustaining Community Projects course in 2018, sparking the idea to compile Mamelodi’s stories and photos in a book. However, the idea evolved in 2022 after Nkomo connected with Dr. Martina Jordaan, head of Community Engagement and Postgraduate Studies at UP’s Mamelodi Campus. Their shared vision expanded into a digital, interactive archive that could bring Mamelodi’s history to life in an accessible format.
With the help of ArcGIS StoryMaps, Jordaan facilitated workshops in digital literacy for community members throughout 2022 and 2023 at UP’s Mamelodi Campus. These workshops laid the foundation for the Historical Society’s digital presence, with a website, YouTube channel, and LinkedIn profile launched in mid-2023. Core society members, including Nkomo, Mfana Mathibela, Obed Mahlangu, and Moses Mokele, spearheaded this initiative and are now compiling stories for an e-book. Further workshops have been scheduled to reach young learners during school holidays, introducing them to the art of digital storytelling.
The project has received essential support through a Talloires Network Engaged Research Grant, which has allowed community members to share their unique perspectives on topics such as Bacardi music, Pretoria’s house music scene, and local challenges related to sanitation and water access.
“Community members found the training empowering, as it enabled them to document and share their experiences, while learners described it as enriching,” Jordaan noted. “It’s gratifying to witness how UP’s infrastructure and skills have supported a digital archive for Mamelodi’s past.”
The collaboration has also provided valuable hands-on experience for UP’s Honours students in Heritage and Cultural Tourism, helping them understand the nuances of community-based heritage tourism. As part of a second-semester module, students research ways to promote heritage sites with tourism potential while gaining insights from Historical Society members who serve as mentors and evaluators for their projects.
“UP’s program equips students with multidisciplinary skills for the tourism industry,” said Hannes Engelbrecht, a lecturer in UP’s Department of Historical and Heritage Studies. “This project teaches them to navigate community empowerment, heritage conservation, and tourism’s practical aspects.”
The Mamelodi digital storytelling initiative is even featured in the newly released academic book, Museum Studies for a Post-Pandemic World, within a chapter titled Mapping Memories and Making Meaning: Community-Engaged Heritage Studies and Research.
Nkomo’s dedication to documenting Mamelodi’s past predates this project; in 2015, he contributed to an exhibition on the 1985 Mamelodi Massacre, in which police killed 13 residents. Reflecting on the process, he recalled, “Interviewing families was not only healing for them but also for me. It was emotional but allowed us to finally talk about difficult memories.”
Reflecting on his experiences, Nkomo emphasizes the importance of these efforts. “Mamelodi’s history must be kept alive for the benefit of future generations,” he says. The digital archive stands as a testament to a community’s resilience and commitment to remembering its past.
Related Articles
