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22 April 2025
DF Malherbe Memorial Lecture
DF Malherbe Memorial Lecture Invitation

Invitation

DF Malherbe Memorial Lecture

You are cordially invited to the University of the Free State’s (UFS) DF Malherbe Memorial Lecture – Afrikaans 100.

Click to view documentView the invitation

 

Date: Thursday 15 May 2025

Time: 17:30

Venue: Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) Auditorium, Bloemfontein Campus

The lecture is a celebration of a century of Afrikaans as an official language and will be a showcase of the language’s rich diversity and an intellectual reflection on the history thereof.

The keynote speaker is Prof Joan Hambidge, the rejoinder is delivered by Prof Hein Willemse, and entertainment is provided by musician Frazer Barry, the UFS Department of Drama and Theatre Arts, and the Odeion String Quartet.

Interpreting services will be available.

Prof Joan Hambidge
Poet, novelist, and a public intellectual. She is currently retired and a fellow (senior researcher) at UCT.

Prof Hein Willemse
Former Head of the Department of Afrikaans, University of Pretoria and a leading language activist.

Frazer Barry
Renowned musician, television and radio presenter, rhymer, producer, and entrepreneur.

Enquiries:
Alicia Pienaar: pienaaran1@ufs.ac.za
Register by Monday 5 May 2025.
Click to register

Datum: Donderdag 15 Mei 2025

Tyd: 17:30

Plek: Ekonomiese en Bestuurswetenskappe (EBW)-ouditorium, Bloemfontein-kampus

Die lesing is ’n viering van ’n eeu van Afrikaans as amptelike taal; dit sal ’n vertoonvenster wees van die taal se ryke diversiteit en ’n intellektuele besinning oor die geskiedenis daarvan.

Die hoofspreker is prof Joan Hambidge, repliek word gelewer deur prof Hein Willemse, en vermaak word verskaf deur musikant Frazer Barry, die UFS se Departement Drama en Teaterkuns, en die Odeion Strykkwartet.

Tolkdienste sal beskikbaar wees.

Prof Joan Hambidge
Digter en romanskrywer, openbare intellektueel en afgetrede senior navorser aan die Universiteit van Kaapstad.

Prof Hein Willemse
Voormalige hoof van die Departement Afrikaans, Universiteit van Pretoria en ‘n toonaangewende taalaktivis.

Frazer Barry
Bekende musikant, televisie- en radio-aanbieder, rymelaar, vervaardiger en entrepreneur.

Navrae:
Alicia Pienaar: pienaaran1@ufs.ac.za
RSVP teen Maandag 5 Mei 2025.
Klik hier om te registreer

Letsatsi: Labone 15 Motsheanong 2025

Nako: 17:30

Sebaka: EMS Auditorium, Bloemfontein Campus

Puo ena ke mokete wa ngwahaketekgolo wa Afrikaans e le puo ya mmuso mme hona e tla ba pontsho ya katleho ya mefutafuta ya puo esita le totobatso ya bohlalefi mabapi le nalane ya yona.

Sebui sa sehlooho ke Moprofesa Joan Hambidge, puo ya karabelo e tla hlahiswa ke Moprofesa Hein Willemse, boithabiso bo tla phethahatswa ke setsebi sa mmino e leng Frazer Barry, ya hlahang UFS Lefapha la Drama and Theatre Arts, esita le Sehlopha sa Likhoele tse ’nè (String Quartet).

Ho tla ba le ditshebeletso tsa bofetoledi.

Prof Joan Hambidge
Moprofesa Joan Hambidge ke sethothokisi, setsebi sa dipale, esita le ramahlale wa setjhaba. Ha jwale o phomotse mosebetsing ebile ke mofuputsi e moholo wa UCT.

Prof Hein Willemse
Moprofesa Hein Willemse ke Hlooho ya mehleng ya Lefapha la Afrikaans, Yunivesithing ya Pretoria ebile ke motataisi le mokgothaletsi ho tsa puo.

Frazer Barry
Frazer Barry ke setsebi sa mmino se tsebahalang, mohlahisi wa thelevishene le seyalemoya, sethothokisi, mohlahisi le setsebi sa kgwebo.

Dipotso:
Alicia Pienaar: pienaaran1@ufs.ac.za
Etsa bonnete ba hore o ngodisitse pele ha Mantaha 5 Motsheanong 2025.
Tobetsa mona ho ingodisa

News Archive

Afrikaans Language Day invites greater university community to celebrate the language
2015-08-26

On 14 August 2015, the Vuur en Vlam Committee hosted an event which provided the university community the opportunity to celebrate Afrikaans Language Day. The occasion celebrated the establishment of the language in South Africa. With the unexpected arrival of the Dutch in 1652, the language transition proved a struggle for the indigenous peoples domiciled on African soil.

The committee’s primary objective was to change existing cultural connotations associated with the Afrikaans language.  The use of diversity can help undermine the African stereotype held about the Afrikaans language, and thus bring about a mindset shift. It is important to remember that not all Afrikaans speakers are white, and emphasis is rarely directed to the diversity of Afrikaans speakers.

Approaching the celebration, a sensitive discussion around the Afrikaans language was hosted, in which various panel members discussed the state and current outlook of the language. Prof André Keet, Director of the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice, who was part of the panel said, “No language gets to be misused to maintain the privilege of the past.” Director of the Free State Arts Festival, Ricardo Peach, shared the notion that “We must build on what we have, and not break it down,” while he describes himself as a “polluted language boer”. While there is a strongly-expressed hatred for the Afrikaans language, Peach maintained further that there is much work to be done in order to “Break down the link between the language and the Holocaust which took place in the homes of Afrikaans people.”

Lindiwe Kumalo, chairperson of the Vuur en Vlam Committee, said: “We are creating an awareness around campus that Afrikaans is not dead. Once you know the language, you can interact with other people, and there is no longer that language barrier.” Amongst other things, the event encouraged dialogue by creating fun and interactive activities which exposed visitors to the language.

The Vuur en Vlam Committee is committed to creating an awareness of, and vibrancy around, the Afrikaans language, and to engaging the broader university community.

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

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