The Jaap Durand Chair at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) has released an essay collection titled 'Indigeneity, Slavery, and Nation.' This book addresses some of the most pressing and contentious issues facing South Africa today, including questions of belonging, understanding historical injustice, forgotten or suppressed histories, and the necessary forms of recognition, memory, and justice required to build a more inclusive future.
Context and Purpose of the Publication
The collection emerged from the first Jaap Durand Chair seminar in December 2025. It brought together leading scholars, public intellectuals, theologians, historians, philosophers, linguists, and cultural theorists for a broad interdisciplinary discussion on themes of identity, memory, slavery, indigenous peoples, language, citizenship, and national consciousness.
The authors examine how centuries of colonial conquest, dispossession, enslavement, migration, resistance, and cultural exchange continue to shape South African society and how its inhabitants perceive themselves.
Mission and Legacy of the Chairs
The Chair is named after Professor Jaap Durand, who served as Professor of Systematic Theology and Vice-Rector at UWC from 1973 to 1994. The purpose of this Chair is to encourage critical public engagement on issues of democracy, justice, belonging, and social transformation. This publication reflects that mission by creating a space for deep discussions about the historical foundations of South Africa's contemporary state.
The Theme of Restorative Memory
A central idea running through the entire collection is the concept of restorative memory. Many authors argue that true social justice requires more than just policy reform; it demands a deeper immersion into historical truth and the experiences of communities whose contributions have been marginalized or erased. Patrick Tariq Mellot, author of the bestseller 'The Lie of 1652: A Decolonised History of Land and The Truth of Cape Slavery,' presents extensive work on 'restorative memory and restorative justice.'
Exploring Identities and History
The essays also analyze the process of forming racial and ethnic identities, revisit debates on non-racism, and study the tensions between specific indigenous claims and broader, more encompassing notions of belonging. Professor Chirag Rasul writes on race, ethnicity, and anti-racist politics; Dr. Villa Boezak sheds light on the Khoisan indigenous people; and Dr. Ndumiso Dladla examines the 'Xhosa philosophical tradition.' Chancellor Michael Wieder explores the place of slavery in national identity, while Ms. Tessa Dums writes about colonized identity and the reclamation of self-naming rights.
Memory as Political Practice
Beyond reviewing the histories of indigenous and enslaved communities, the collection examines the ongoing significance of these histories in modern debates on land and identity, and explores how memory functions as a political and ethical practice. Dr. Rian de Villiers offers a profound look at Groote Kerk as a site of memory and restoration, while Dr. Teuns Eloff presents a 'balanced perspective of past, present, and future.'
Language and Culture in Focus
Other materials focus on language and culture, including the restoration of the Cape as a historically rich linguistic tradition and the significance of African poetic traditions as forms of communal knowledge and democratic expression. Mogamat Kamedian and Professor Quentin Williams write in separate chapters about aspects of the Afrikaans language movements and the Cape dictionary project. In 'Critical Poetic Traditions in African Languages,' Professor Siseko H. Kumalo examines 'ukuhaya inkondlo,' public performance poetry.
Authors' General Conclusions
Despite working from different disciplinary and political viewpoints, the authors are united by concern over the unfinished consequences of colonialism, slavery, and apartheid, and the necessity of recovering histories and voices often excluded from dominant narratives.
According to Professor Hein Willemse, the original holder of the Jaap Durand Chair, the collection aims to stimulate informed public conversation about the past, present, and future of South Africa. He noted: 'The book invites readers to critically consider how our histories shape contemporary realities and how we can envision and realize a more just, democratic, and inclusive society.'
'Indigeneity, Slavery, and Nation' is an important contribution to current national discussions on memory, identity, justice, and belonging. By bringing together diverse voices and perspectives, this collection offers fresh insights into the complex processes that have shaped South Africa and opens new avenues for dialogue, scholarly research, and public engagement.