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Within the walls of Walter Sisulu University, a captivating collection of artefacts stands as a tribute to the late Professor Canasseus Masilo Lamla’s profound dedication to preserving African heritage.
The collection is a testament to Lamla’s lifelong research efforts to preserve the traditional ancestral practices of the Nguni people and diverse customs of the Eastern Cape Province.
“This collection plays a central role in safeguarding the heritage passed down by our ancestors across time and space and serves as a catalyst for a more profound appreciation of our shared history,” said Curator, Zukisa Madyibi.
A large fraction of the collection pays tribute to African spiritual diviners called amaGqirha, particularly those who facilitate people’s understanding of illnesses and misfortune through communication with deceased forebears.
Madyibi said, “The study collection offers invaluable resources for researchers, historians, educators, students, and the public. It provides profound insights into the past and facilitates our comprehension of the development of rituals, beliefs, traditions, and human interactions.”
The professor’s collection is substantiated by vast research papers from honors to doctoral level, including: ‘The Making of an Ancestor: Southern Nguni Mortuary Rituals and Formal Incorporation into the Spirit World, ‘Traditional Healing as a Community Resource,’ and ‘The Dead: Prepared to Live in the Spirit World.’
In a jointly authored paper by Dr. Kholekile Ngqila from WSU, Dr. Janet Hayward from Rhodes University, and Mzwandile Paul Komanisi from Fort Hare, the trio reflect upon his contributions to medical anthropology, gender studies, and the overall and scholarly contributions of the professor.
They wrote: “Lamla, in turn, focused on the ritual aspects of ancestoral reverence and the ways in which these characterise and celebrate the coexistence of living and deceased clan members. His work derives from intense interaction with his interlocutors and keen observation of the diversity of their individual experiences and opinions.”
In addition to conserving Nguni culture, Lamla’s collection and research also documented a legacy of historical events, culture, and traditions of the people of the Eastern Cape.
In 2013, Lamla authored a manuscript detailing the 1960 Pondo Revolt near Lusikisiki where villagers gathered in Ngquza Hill to protest apartheid rule, including the "Betterment schemes," the state's use of traditional leaders, and Transkei independence via the 1951 Bantu Authorities Act.
“Prof Lamla’s legacy safeguards cultural traditions, supports artistic expression, documents history, strengthens cultural identity, provides economic opportunities, fosters cross-cultural understanding, promotes innovation, facilitates skill transfer, preserves stories, and messages, and contributes to cultural revival efforts,” said Madyibi.
The collection sits alongside a highly-prized hand-stitched, “specifically declared” bead collection in the WSU Beadwork Collection Center, from the tribal nations of abaThembu, amaMpondo, amaMpondomise, amaXhosa amaBomvana and amaXesibe in the Eastern Cape.
Professor Canasseus Masilo Lamla departed to join his ancestry on the 23rd of October 2019.
By Ongezwa Sigodi
