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Prof Rodwell Makombe on Qwaqwa migrants and their connection to home

22 February 2021 | Story Thabo Kessah | Photo Thabo Kessah

Prof Rodwell Makombe_web read more — Prof Rodwell Makombe’s literary research focuses on a Facebook page that ‘reconstructs home away from home’.

Home is a complex concept, as it is not a physical place. This is according to Prof Rodwell Makombe’s recently published research article titled, Online images and imaginings of home: The case of Qwaqwa Thaba Di Mahlwa Facebook page.

“The article looks at how migrants from Qwaqwa, now living in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and elsewhere, imagine Qwaqwa as home. Because they spend a lot of time away from home, they always have a longing and a sense of loneliness, as they live in places that are not home. They also have to find ways of reminiscing about their homeland. This study is about how they reconstruct home away from home. There are two approaches towards the idea of home. Firstly, home can be conceptualised as a familiar place and a place of origin that offers stability. Secondly, home is within them and they carry it with them wherever they go,” said Prof Makombe.

‘Qwaqwa Thaba Di Mahlwa’

The study focused on a Facebook page created by Qwaqwa migrants, called ‘Qwaqwa thaba Di Mahlwa’. “We looked at the images that were posted on this page and how they seek to construct Qwaqwa as a home. When a person posts a picture from Qwaqwa, everyone from Qwaqwa associates with the picture and are reminded of certain things from home. Migrants make homes out of this Facebook page and the page becomes a place where all can rally together and construct their home,” he added.

The study is part of a broader book project titled Visual Cultures of the Afromontane, funded by the Afromontane Research Unit.

Prof Makombe is an Associate Professor in the Department of English on the Qwaqwa Campus. His areas of research include cultural studies, postcolonial literatures, and cultures of resistance. The article was co-written with Dr Oliver Nyambi.

LISTEN: Prof Rodwell Makombe on Qwaqwa migrants and their connection to home

University of the Free State · Prof Rodwell Makombe on Qwaqwa migrants and their connection to home

News Archive

Academics proud of their children

2012-03-29

Photo: Hannes Pieterse
29 March 2012

Carmien, the daughter of Prof. Francois Tolmie, the Dean of the Faculty of Theology, received the degree B.Sc. Hons. (Cum laude) in Biotechnology.

For Prof. Theo du Plessis’ family, the graduation ceremony meant double joy. His daughter, Mènan, received her B-degree in Architecture, while his son, Jean-Pierre, got an award for the best honours project in Computer Science. Here are, from left: Jean-Pierre, Mrs Colleen du Plessis, Prof. Theo du Plessis en Mènan. Prof. Du Plessis is the head of the Department of Language Management and Language Practice and Mrs Du Plessis is a lecturer in the Department of English.

Johané Nienkemper (B.Sc. Hons.) (middle) received the Senate’s medal and prize as the best honours student at the UFS, as well as the Dean’s medal as the best honours student in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. With her are her sister, Marisan Niemkemper, and her mother, Mrs Dorothy Russell of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Bernadette du Toit (middle) received a B.Com Honours degree (Cum laude) at the graduation ceremony on Friday. She is here with her parents, Prof. Gawie du Toit and his wife, Dr Erna du Toit, both of the Faculty of Education. She is one of three people to receive such high marks in the past 30 years.

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