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22 February 2021 | Story Thabo Kessah | Photo Thabo Kessah
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

News Archive

Centre for Africa Studies concludes ANC Centenary Dialogue series
2013-02-20

 

Attending the closing seminar were from left: Prof Chris Saunders, Editor of the ANC Centenary dialogue book; Vincent Khetha from the Free State Provincial Government’s Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation; Prof Kwesi Prah; Siphamandla Zondi, Editor of the ANC Centenary dialogue book; Dr Dennis Goldberg and Prof Kwandiwe Kondlo.
Photo: Steffi Cawood
20 February 2013

Speech:"The future of South Africa in Africa" (pdf)

The Centre for Africa Studies received praise for the series of dialogues it hosted on the ruling ANC party, conversations which started before the party held its 53rd National Conference on our Bloemfontein Campus.

The Centre recently hosted the last seminar in the ANC Centenary Dialogue series, a project which started in November 2010 when the ruling party prepared for its centenary celebrations in 2012.

Prof Kwandiwe Kondlo, former Head of the Centre, and currently professor at the University of Johannesburg, told guests at the closing seminar, "it was a job well done which kept dialogue going on". Prof Kondlo said a book with a collection of papers presented during the series is being finalised, with senior ANC officials expected to attend the book launch on the Bloemfontein Campus later this year. The book features chapters by scholars like Profs Stephen Ellis, Shireen Hassim, Colin Bundy and Ben Turok and covers topics on the role of women in the liberation struggle, the party's economic policy and the history of the party in exile.

Speakers at the closing seminar included Prof Kwesi Prah, whom Prof Kondlo introduced as "one of Afica's intellectual giants,” struggle veteran, Dr Dennis Goldberg and the new Head of the Centre for Africa Studies, Prof Heidi Hudson.

Prof Prah, who delivered the keynote address, spoke about "The future of South Africa in Africa."

 

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