Reclaiming Heritage: A Living Archive

Agnes Mosalo

On 16 December 1991, I was working at the plug firm for two years. We were working for whites and we were faithful to them but they were not to us. When they had to pay us they ran away with our...

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Beauty Mofokeng

This happened in 1986, September. We were in the classroom when the police force consisting of white and black people entered the classroom. They told us that we had only 5 minutes to get outside...

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Elizabeth Gama

It was on Saturday during the day when I entered the white’s store to buy something. In fact I did not know that the door I was using was not the one for black people. I just heard a voice asking...

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Feziwe Mathafeni

Life was so difficult to live in 1981 at Mount Fletcher. There was no employment and my father was unemployed. They were always demanding the permit for him to be in town whenever he went there to...

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Keitumetse Ntsioa

It was in year 2002 when my brother was arrested and went to jail.

He had a girlfriend that he loved. That night when this girl was killed it was my brother they were fighting over. She...

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Maureen Nxumalo

I was traumatized in 2002. The father of my children was arrested and we starved thereafter. Nothing has changed as yet. I don’t know whether or not my children have had any thing to eat for the...

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Mbali Mjuqu

I felt pain when I was asked to write a story about the above topic. During the 1980s Boers were victimizing us. They hated black people. We were always crying in those times. Something happened...

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Nobom Ndlumbini

I was working in town because we had nothing at home. I was working for my children. I walked to town whether it was cold or raining for the entire month but I was never paid anything. I don’t...

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Nobonisile Ntontela

I will never forget 2002. I knew a boy who was staying with his grandfather at the town of Mt. Fere. He was 5 years old. His parents had died. It was so sad that a child had to cook. Everything...

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Nokuzola Ngidi

It was 1986 in the years of Apartheid when we were living the bird’s life in Odendaalsrus, At that time people who did not have a passport (permission to be in a certain area) were arrested. My...

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Nolitha Ganya

In 1990 I went to visit Mtata, in the Eastern Cape. I will never forget what I witnessed there in my life. We had gone to apply for jobs at Bhota Sigcawu offices. There were other women who had...

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Nomakhazi Wellem

That was when I gave birth to my baby. I went to the clinic and the nurses were there. One nurse ordered me to dress up and await the ambulance. I did as I was told. While I was waiting I noticed...

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Nomaladi Faloyi

On 24 August 1997 at Qaukeni, a house was burnt down. It belonged to a very stubborn man who always called himself a Cikeian. The youth from that area collected the membership cards for the CNP....

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Nombulelo Mkhusane

In 1960 my father, Herbert Vatsha, was the chairperson of ANC. Police arrived to arrest him but he ran away and lived in bushes for a whole month. Police were knocking to my mother’s door at night...

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Nomonde S. Mrwebi

Growing up comes with a lot of challenges and hardships. It is so hard to grow up without parents. Being brought up by other people usually bears tasteless fruits. Zidwesha, Mlisa and Mthinjane,...

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Nondumiso Mbidlana

On 18 Ntlaba 1988 I went to buy chickens that I had intended to sell. I used the little bit of money I had. I brought them home and I bought food for them. I had them for three days and they...

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Nonice Zeka

Boers were hitting black men and shooting them. We were living in time of Apartheid. We were arrested by Boer police in the Thabong location. They were kicking the door down while we were sleeping...

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Noziphilele Mthini

One day I was sleeping in my bedroom. It was Wednesday night at 10.00. Two boys arrived. These boys were from my neighbourhood and I knew them. Their names were Lihle and Madoda. I was in love...

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Nozixhiba Civatha

It was when the soldiers burned down my father’s older brother’s houses. I was admitted at the hospital due to the pain I was feeling for him. His cattle were shot down. We were spending time in...

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Ntsoaki Mbele

On 10 April 1969 something bad happened. My auntie was a friend of a white person. In those years of apartheid a black person was not allowed to be a friend of a white person. If you were a friend...

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Phindiwe Mziwakhe

This incident happened at Bhayi in 1989. I was going to town and I saw my uncle whose car was involved in an accident. All victims were sadly injured. My uncle was not injured. One person died...

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Rosa Bazima

What hurt me is that I am living a miserable life. I am always complaining in my heart. I don’t know how long will I take this kind of abuse. The name of this man is Adolf. I am a Shangane. I don’...

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Somlayi Nomamane

On 03/06/1992 was the day my uncle’s house burned down. I was there. Everything burned down. People tried to extinguish the fire but in vain. My heart was sore on that day. My belongings were also...

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Zandile Mavuso

On 2 of 1987 I was staying with my sister and her husband. I had a baby and I got sick. I was at Coronation (BaQulusini) area at number 9. My sister and her husband beat me up and chased me away...

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About the Archive

The Amazwi Abesifazane Archives (Amazwi Archives) consists of close to 3000 recorded memory cloths and narratives which are creatively interpreted as embroidered, beaded and appliqued stories. They are accompanied by two language narratives (the original indigenous language and an English translation) as well as a photograph of the maker. The Archive will be made available upon registered request to (art and other) scholars, research programmes, educators and other interested parties at a nominal fee.