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25 August 2022 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
Bernedette Muthien
Bernedette Muthien is the author of Rethinking Africa, which critically opens new pathways for decolonial scholarship and the reclamation of indigenous self-definition by women scholars.

“Claim your own agency and power, no matter how challenging the circumstances. Violence and oppression stop with each of us. We ended apartheid. We will end patriarchy. And everyone will benefit from the end of gender and intersecting oppressions, to live their full potential in an equal and nonviolent society. We are making the change; it is coming; always have hope.”

This is the message to women from Bernedette Muthien, Research Fellow in the Office for International Affairs at the University of the Free State (UFS).

For the past 20 years, she has conducted research on intersectional justice, a topic that is both scholarly, accessible to activists and others, and can be used to improve our communities, our country, and the world at large.

Muthien has written more than 200 publications, some translated into European and local languages, on gender, gender violence, HIV, Aids, poverty, and sexualities.

Additionally, she has published widely in peace and security studies, as well as indigenous studies. Some of her other works deal with human rights and justice, specifically the constitution and education in South Africa. "As a scholar and human being and being involved in the last cohort of youth activists against apartheid during the turbulent 1980s, I consider intersectional justice and constitutional rights of critical importance,” she says.

Restoring dignity to our people

One of Muthien’s most recent works, Rethinking Africa, is a collection of chapters by diverse indigenous women – from playwright Sylvia Vollenhoven, to academic Babalwa Magoqwana – reinterpreting our past from various women’s perspectives.

The book, conceived at the start of the pandemic lockdown and produced in less than a year, critically opens new pathways for decolonial scholarship and the reclamation of indigenous self-definition by women scholars. “It is long overdue that, as indigenous women, we write our own herstory, define our own contemporary cultural and socio-economic conditions, and conceive future visions based on our lived realities, which are social and gender equality, matricentric, beyond-heteronormative, based on nonviolence or peace, ecologically responsible, and goddess-loving,” she says. 

It is Muthien's commitment to her women ancestors and contemporary communities that inspired this work, correcting misinterpretations of indigenous knowledge, women's role in society, and colonially influenced patriarchy in our urban areas.

She believes one needs women at the centre of societies, co-creating social values and practices that are humane and nonviolent, that nurture and foster individual and collective growth, that heal and care, that do no harm, and definitely do not exploit. 

“There is enough light in the cosmos for all the stars to shine. One star’s light does not diminish the glitter of other stars, and shining together, all the stars united can be brighter than even the sun. Together, we continue to define our own herstories and scholarship for ourselves, as indigenous peoples in Africa,” Muthien was heard saying at the online launch of Rethinking Africa last year. 

Through this publication, she mostly wanted to convey that women are central to indigenous societies, and that our environment is alive and worthy of respect. In Muthien's view, humans, animals, plants, and the planet should not be exploited in any way but imbued with dignity.

Furthermore, she believes that we need to reclaim these core indigenous values and practices that have been corrupted by colonially inspired patriarchy. “As a result, we will eradicate gender violence and restore dignity to our women, our men, and to our people," she says.

Challenging colonially inspired patriarchy

The intent of Rethinking Africa is to contribute to scholarship. Yet the contributors are from different sectors, writing in diverse styles, making this work accessible to all audiences. “Photographs of sacred sites and rock art, as well as poems by leading indigenous poets, are included in the book, illustrating the indigenous intersections between scholarship, art, creativity, spirituality, and between individual and community,” she explains. 

The work specifically challenges colonially inspired patriarchy, including religious teachings about patriarchy, about the subordination of women, which contradict indigenous wisdoms of equality and women at society’s centre.

Muthien’s work, although challenging for some, does add value, changing people’s lives for the better. For decades, she has worked on consciousness transformation through scholarship and community work. She is of the opinion that mindsets need to change in order to change behaviour and society. “In this way, the change is deep and lasting,” she says. 

She is also a firm believer in less talk, and more strategic and effective action. “In taking action, one first decolonises the mindset; strip it bare of all internalised oppression. Then it is important to re-instil ancient indigenous knowledge, values, and practices. Also offer skills, networks, resources, to communities as they offer their knowledge to scholars.”

“In addition, leave concrete assets for communities,” she says. Muthien tells the story of a family in Andriesvale, deep in the Kalahari, who built their Kalahari Kombuis, which serves as their residence and a tourist entertainment and dining venue, funded by a small group of Dutch feminists who wanted to contribute to reparations. According to her, the building and the family and community thrive to this day.

And importantly, it is key to have compassion. “Always compassion,” she says.

Muthien offered Rethinking Africa as her contribution to the various communities she has served over decades since birth.

• The book is available in bookshops and online, and online around the world.

News Archive

Little ‘Devil’s Worm’ on Top 10 New Species list
2012-05-29

 

Halicephalobus mephisto (Devil’s Worm)
Photo: Supplied
29 May 2012

A minuscule little worm found and researched with the assistance of researchers at the university has made it onto the list of Top 10 New Species of the world. The list was published by the International Institute for Species Exploration (IISE) at Arizona State University and a committee of scientists from around the world. It lists the top ten new species described in 2011.

An article on the new worm species appeared in the authoritative journal Nature in June 2011.
 
Prof. Esta van Heerden, leader of the university’s research team, says, “In our wildest dreams, we could not have imagined that we would get so much reaction from the worm’s discovery. We had to do so many checks and balances to convince Nature that the worm could survive in the old and warm water. We were very excited when the article was accepted but the media reaction was unbelievable.”
 
The tiny nematode, Halicephalobus mephisto (Devil’s Worm) of about 0,5 mm in length, is the deepest-living terrestrial multi-cellular organism on earth. It was discovered in the Beatrix gold mine near Welkom at a depth of 1,3 km.
 
The IISE says in a statement the species is remarkable for surviving immense underground pressure as well as high temperatures. The borehole water where this species lives has not been in contact with the earth’s atmosphere for the last 4 000 to 6 000 years.  
 
This top-10 list includes a sneezing monkey; a beautiful, but venomous jellyfish; a fungus named after a popular TV cartoon character; a night-blooming orchid; an ancient walking cactus creature; and a tiny wasp. A vibrant poppy, a giant millipede and a blue tarantula also made it onto the list.
 
The international selection committee made its choice from more than 200 nominations. They looked for species that captured the attention because they were unusual or because they had bizarre traits. Some of the new species have interesting names.
 
Prof. Van Heerden says, “We are very thankful for the exposure that the university gets as a result of the inclusion on the list and we enjoy the international cooperation immensely.”

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