Book of the Month July 2009

The Mudjadji dynasty : the principles of female leadership in African cosmology / Mathole Kherofo Motshekga ; edited by Mari -Lais Emond

The primary aim of the study was to investigate the principles of female leadership in southern Africa, with special reference to the Mudjadji cosmology. The process involved tracing the origins of these principles back to Ancient Ethiopia - more specifically to the provinces of Napata and Meroe in the Sudan - and even further, to show that these principles are directly linked to the African cosmology and the goddess Mwari
Something about the author:

Dr. Mathole Kherofo Motshekga is the founder and executive director of the Kara Heritage Institute, which promotes the study of African history and culture, and an advocate of the Supreme Court of South Africa.
He is legal adviser to the Mudjadji Royal Council, the National Coalition of Traditional Leaders, and the National House of Traditional Leaders of South Africa.
He is a former premier of Gauteng, and chair and deputy chair of the African National Congress (ANC) in that province. He serves on numerous national task teams and committees.
Dr Motshekga holds a B Juris (Unisa); LLB (Unisa); and LLM (Harvard), and is an honorary professor of political sciences of the University of Pretoria.
He has also been a visiting scholar in the African Studies Centre at Harvard University in the United States; a visiting lecturer in law at the University of Freiburg; and a research fellow of the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law, also in Freiburg, Germany.
He regularly speaks on radio and TV about issues relating to African heritage. Dr. Motshekga was born in 1949 in Balobedu, home of South Africa's fabled Rain Queens.

Source: The Mudjadji Dynasty: the principles of female leadership in African cosmology by Mathole Kherofo Motshekga ; edited by Marie-Lais Emond

Book of the Month June 2009

The Art of Illumination : an anthology of manuscripts from the sixth to the sixteenth century
145 Illustrations, 24 in colour

The illumination of manuscripts is an art-form which has only recently taken its rightful place beside panel and wall painting in the history of art. Quite apart from its purely aesthetic appeal - rich in invention, excitement, skill and often dramatic impact - manuscript illumination throws light on whole periods of art history for which there is little other pictorial evidence, or where frescoes and panel paintings have suffered from retouching and restoration. Miniature paintings nearly always come down to us fresh and unspoiled, and since their scale permits them frequently to be reproduced in original size, we have the unique opportunity of enjoying and studying an art-form in the manner in which it was intended - in the book
The present publication offers a rich and fascinating anthology of illuminated manuscripts from the sixth to the sixteenth century. The selection includes not only pages from many great and familiar Bibles, Psalters, Gospel Books and Books of Hours, but also less well-known illustrations which are often profoundly imaginative and pictorially exciting. The choice of plates, 24 of which are in full colour, extends from the graceful early Byzantine illustrations and the more monumental Carolingian folios, to the late and ornate pages painted by 16 th century Italian artists. There are examples of English, Irish, German, Austrian, Flemish, French, Italian and Spanish illumination, some shown in enlarged details.
To introduce these impressive corpus of plates, Professor Aeschlimann and the late Professor d'Ancoma - both renowned authorities - have written a concise and informative survey of the history of miniature painting, tracing the development of the different schools and analysing briefly their stylistic features. There are also full and detailed notes on each plate, as well as a Bibliography.

Source : The art of illumination : an anthology of manuscripts from the sixth to the sixteenth century by P. D"Ancona & E. Aeschlimann

Book of the Month May 2009

The Madiba years : cartoons from Sowetan and the Mail & Guardian / Zapiro

Zapiro, a.k.a. Jonathan Shapiro, has drawn editorial cartoons for some of South Africa's most important newspapers during the unique drama of the last days of Apartheid and the birth of a democratic nation. He has lampooned parties and personalities without favour. This collection is a quirky chronicle of the years 1994 to 1996.
Zapiro's cartoons are a national treasure. Frequently discussed on radio and TV, they have provoked public comment from politicians and are the source of such private delight that many are to be found mounted in the offices of power.
Zapiro brings to cartooning a background of political activism (which got him into trouble in the bad old days.) Now he keeps a vigilant pen on the new dispensations, which sometimes entails knocking comrades he met in the trenches.
Awarded a Fullbright Scholarship, Zapiro studied Media Arts at the School of Visual Arts in New York. His work appears regularly in the Mail & Guardian, Sowetan and the Cape Argus, and has appeared widely in other publications, both local and international. He has had solo exhibitions in Cape Town and New York.
He is married to photographer Karina Turok and they have a son, Tevya.

Book of the Month April 2009

African Basketry : grassroots art from southern Africa / Anthony B. Cunningham & M. Elizabeth Terry

African Basketry is a unique contribution to African art and culture. More than any other African craft, basketry represents the finest blend of indigenous culture, environment and technology. Different types of basketry from southern Africa are featured in this book, with both historical and contemporary examples from Botswana, Lesotho, southern Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, western Zambia and Zimbabwe.
In the past, various basketry items reflected the lifestyles of the hunter-gatherers, pastoralists, fishing communities and agriculturalists who made them. Later, with rapid urbanisation and cultural change, some basketry styles and century-old skills disappeared, almost without a trace. More recently, there has been a dramatic increase in the international appreciation of African basketry as an art form, which has brought both its functionality and aesthetics into the limelight. The export of African basketry to collectors, interior designers and museums in the USA, Europe and Australia has flourished.
To date, no comprehensive book has been published on basketry in southern Africa. This has meant that many basketry enthusiasts have acquired "traditional" African basketry items with little background knowledge of their origins, historical context, use, or the raw materials used in their crafting
African Basketry provides detailed information on historical perspectives, weaving techniques, construction methods, designs, styles and raw materials used in basketry. The impact of commercialisation is also described, which has brought with itvarious benefits and challenges for basket makers.
Photographs of baskets from major museum collections in southern Africa, the USA and Britain, feature alongside unique images of basket construction and use. Previously unpublished black-and-white photographs taken by Alfred Duggan-Cronin in the early 1900's enhance the historical record.
African Basketry describes past, present and future trends, enabling the proper recognition of this art form in both time and place.

Source: African basketry : grassroots from southern Africa / Anthony B. Cunningham & M. Elizabeth Terry

Book of the Month March 2009

Onderstepoort 1908-2008 portrays an intriguing history and makes fascinating reading. Although not intended to be one, it is a textbook on animal diseases in South Africa; it is also a textbook on perseverance, innovation, human relations and the art of negotiation and problem solving, while providing glimpses of the future and where we are going. The book is essentially a resumé of the challenges that faced researchers, scientists and diagnosticians over the past 100 years, who came forth with solutions to the problems posed by animal diseases that were in many instances unknown - not only in South Africa but also in much of the rest of the world. Many of the solutions found by its dedicated and devoted gallery of scientists, researchers, technologists and teachers were often a world's first, and many remain valid and in use today. The golden thread of the book is the wonderful insight it gives into the people who made history, the interplay of human relations, the leaders who effected changes in direction; the human successes and failures, veterinary politics, and personality clashes, all recounted with a good deal of underlying and essential veterinary humour. It is a book that asks to be read again and again - not only by veterinarians, scientists and researchers, but also by students, farmers, agriculturalists, historians, animal lovers and those who have heard the name of Onderstepoort and wish to know more about this historic cradle of veterinary science in southern Africa.

Source : Onderstepoort 1908-2008 ; editors D.W. Verwoerd & R.D. Bigalke

Book of the Month Jan/Feb 2009

The Karoo Cookbook /compiled by Rose Willis photography by Ryno (first published 2008)


From the earliest days of South Africa's history, food has set the social scene in the Karoo. It was a treat, a reward, and a way to welcome guests and bid farewell to friends. Karoo food is as limitless as the land - vast, diverse, all consuming. And like the land, the cuisine captivates visitors, enticing them back time and time again to experience the culinary delights.
Karoo lamb is famous the world over for its delicious flavour and tenderness, and visitors to the region, even from the earliest days, make a point of trying out this speciality. Today farms supply every need as far as fresh or dried fruit are concerned and the small stock farmed throughout the Karoo provides a tasty range of mutton, lamb and goat. Pork, poultry and beef help ring the changes and venison and ostrich cater for those who are watching their waistlines.
Karoo kitchens are redolent of roasting lamb, venison, pies, hearty casseroles, or coffee, rusks and fragrant home-made bread, and their doors are always open to welcome friends, family and visitors to share in this bounty. The rich tradition of Karoo cuisine and hospitality dates back to a time when there were no hotels in the area and travellers were welcomed into homes to bring news to these isolated areas.
The collection of recipes in The Karoo Cookbook portrays this region's diverse social fabric and, while some dishes such as Mutton Bredie and Venison Stew are rooted in tradition, others like Beef Fillet with Anchovy Stuffing or Karoo "oysters" with Wild Mushrooms and Red Wine Sauce are as modern and adventurous as tomorrow.
The recipes in The Karoo Cookbook have been gathered from those who live (or have lived) in and love the Karoo. These warm, hospitable people all enjoy entertaining and have generously contributed their recipes so that others may bring some of the magic of this place into their own homes.
Something about the author:
Rose Willis's great love for the Karoo began in the 1980's, when she and her husband, Wally Kriek, bought a house allegedly designed by Sir Herbert Baker for Beaufort West's first magistrate. It was in great need of TLC, but it had a mountain almost in its backyard and a huge, farm-style kitchen. Rose, a city girl, had never lived in a dorpie before, but the Karoo allowed her to indulge her dual love of historic research and cooking. She discovered that this was a world where townspeople and farm folk easily shared recipes - and the stories behind them - so she began collecting these taste treats, which led to the publication of this book.
After the death of her husband in 2003, Rose moved to Bloemfontein to be closer to her family. She has not lost touch with her beloved Karoo and still publishes Rose's Round-up, a monthly newsletter she created in 1990 to promote the area. Rose now serves on The Free State Archives Council, is president of The Town and Country Ladies Group and also teaches English to pre-school children.
Source : The Karoo Cookbook /compiled by Rose Willis (2008)

Book of the Month December 2008

Craft South Africa In an African context there is really no distinction between "craft" and "art".
Craft South Africa is a visual celebration of South Africa's extraordinary wealth of handmade objects and the people who craft them. From elegant traditional water-storage pots made in rural areas to sophisticated silver jewellery fashioned in urban studios, from headdresses that have adorned Zulu maidens for over a century to contemporary tapestries that explore new materials such as safety pins, the tradition of inspired craft remains a vital expression of the communal nature of South African society.
The authors, all experts in the field of South African craft, develop three themes:
Traditional looks at objects created in ways that have remained unchanged for decades. Many of these objects, originally used for practical everyday activities, now have pride of place in homes from Johannesburg to New York.
Transitional explores craft objects that have their roots in traditional methods of materials but have been adapted to incorporate new materials and techniques - for instance telephone wire baskets that combine traditional basket-making technique with a new material to create highly sought-after decor objects.
Contemporary celebrates the creation, using both old and new materials, of contemporary designer ware and one-of-a-kind craft objects.
Craft South Africa is a fascinating tale of the intuitive creativity of craftspeople in a country of widely diverse people, all contributing their knowledge, skill and, frequently, their humour and whimsy to a pool of crafts that is unique to South Africa

Source: Craft South Africa by Susan Sellschop, Wendy Goldblatt and Doreen Hemp