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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

New Visitors Centre opened

2015-01-05

From the left: Mamosa Makaya, Deputy Director: Integrated Communication; Prof Corli Witthuhn, Vice-Rector: Research; and Lacea Loader, Director: Communication and Brand Management at the opening of the Visitors Centre.

Welcoming point to the Bloemfontein Campus for national and international visitors

Each year our university welcomes numerous visitors onto the Bloemfontein Campus – be they conference delegates, prospective students, parents or service providers. As part of the university’s greater plan of access control and securing the campus for its staff, students and visitors, a Visitors Centre was built at the DF Malherbe gate. The Department of Communication and Brand Management officially opened the new Visitors Centre on 27 November 2014.

In partnership with Protection Services, visitors are now registered and issued with temporary cards to gain access to various parts of the campus. Visitors will also be able to obtain directions and a copy of the campus map at the centre.

The design of the building not only lends a modern, spacious feeling to the centre, but supports green energy as well. Also located at the Visitors Centre is the university switchboard which is the first point of contact for enquiries.

The centre will in future be the welcoming point for larger delegations and visiting groups, nationally and internationally.

For enquiries about the Visitors Centre contact: Mamosa Makaya, Deputy Director: Integrated Communication, at +27(0)51 401 9188 or email makayam@ufs.ac.za.

Visitors Centre front desk: +27(0)51 401 7766.

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