Virtual Seminar by Nikiwe Veshe (Stellenbosch University, PhD Candidate)

You are cordially invited to a Virtual Seminar by Nikiwe Veshe, a PhD Candidate at the Stellenbosch University.

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine changing lifeways and interactions among Bushmen and Baster societies who lived in Gordonia District during the period 1900 to 1930. This period is characterized by key political and social transformations which had a profound impact on two societies, especially when considering the strategic geographical location of Gordonia as a borderland between South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana. The paper explores how colonial land policies and ideals around class distinctions influenced identities, livelihoods, and intergroup relations among the two groups. To achieve this, the researcher analyses some key primary source material such as archival sources, newspaper reports, government gazettes, as well as secondary literature. The paper focuses on the transition during this period from subsistence to commercial economies, the establishment of the Mier Coloured Settlement Area, and the codification or racial and classist divisions through legal frameworks. The paper hopes to contribute to some broader debates about heritage, resistance, and identity in southern Africa. Therefore, the paper makes the broader argument that although inequalities between the two groups existed before 1900s, the period post-1900s formalised these divisions while also entrenching socio-political disparities and redefined intergroup dynamics (as Coloureds), with lasting effects on their identities, heritage, and livelihoods.

Bio

Nikiwe Lucricia Veshe is a final-year PhD candidate in the History Department at Stellenbosch University, where she focuses on the history of communities at the peripheries of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, particularly the ≠Khomani San and Mier communities. She holds a Master’s degree in Historical Studies from the University of Johannesburg, specializing in conservation history, subaltern studies, indigenous knowledge systems, and environmental humanities. Nikiwe’s research intersects with the transformation of African historiography and emphasizes the role of vernacular archives in shaping historical narratives. She is passionate about promoting inclusive history pedagogy and has extensive experience in research, academic writing, and teaching. Nikiwe has presented at several international conferences and has been recognized for her teaching excellence. She is committed to advancing African scholarship and contributing to the revitalization of historical studies in South Africa.

Meeting ID: 399 874 566 55 

Passcode: tA2nq78f