Plants, people, and place: complex, mutualistic, and co-evolving global patterns through time
- Authors: Van Wijk, Yvette Ethné
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Ethnobotany -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Khoisan (African people) -- Ethnobotany , Human-plant relationships -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Plants -- Classification -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Plant remains (Archaeology) -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Ethnoscience -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Regression analysis
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76575 , vital:30609
- Description: My thesis studies and analyses the suite of distinctive plant taxa which persist in small patches of vegetation growing in close association with archaeological habitation sites in the southern Cape, South Africa. The unexpected correlation and overlap between botanical taxa collected at 75 site complexes, and ethnobotanical data collected in collaboration with modern Khoi-San communities in the same area, is explored and interrogated. Although sparse, reports of the same suite of taxa recovered from archaeological excavations in the Cape provinces provides depth of time to the study, linking the past to the present. The three-way correlation of a suite of plants closely associated with humans and habitation sites through time, allows for triangulation of the data in order to validate and cross verify the results using more than one frame of reference. Both the plants and the knowledge about their uses have persisted in spite of historical attrition, and alienation of land and language, suffered by the Khoi-San over the past 300 years. Drawing on a large body of primary and secondary data, and using an interdisciplinary, abductive and pragmatic mixed methods approach, a pattern can be traced throughout Africa and globally. Regression analysis strongly indicates that the most ubiquitous taxa were selected for a purpose and are not randomly present in association with humans. Botanical, anthropological, and archaeological studies seldom focus on the inter-connectedness of people and plants at the sites they inhabited. Very little research into modern vegetation in close association with the sites has been undertaken, and vegetation mapping has not captured the occurrence of these site-specific small vegetation patches recorded during my surveys. The topographically, geologically, and vegetatively complex and varied southern Cape, and greater Cape area, is extremely rich in archaeological sites and history. This study suggests that the value of site-specific plant taxa to humans throughout the aeons of pre-agricultural history, persists into the present. Due to tolerance of a broad range of climatic and environmental variables, there is value in the study of these ancient and neglected useful plants in the face of climate change. That this vegetation is so closely associated with archaeological sites of cultural and historic importance confers an urgency to recognising the existence and significance of the distinctive and possibly anthropogenic vegetation surrounding the sites.
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- Date Issued: 2019
A psychobiographical study of Temple Grandin
- Authors: Wannenburg, Nicola
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Grandin, Temple , Psychology Biographical methods , Psychoanalysis , Autistic women United States Biography , Women animal specialists United States Biography , Developmental psychology , Erikson, Erik H (Erik Homburger), 1902-1994
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/57358 , vital:26877
- Description: Psychobiographical researchers methodically formulate life histories and interpret them by means of psychological theories. The research typically focuses on exemplary and completed lives. The cases that are studied are usually of individuals who are of particular interest to society as a result of excelling in their particular fields, be they to benefit or detriment of society. Temple Grandin was chosen for this study using purposive sampling as she meets the psychobiographical requirement of being an extraordinary individual. As an individual with autism Grandin faced many challenges growing up. Despite a difficult and absent beginning, Grandin developed into a stable and scientifically creative adult who contributes to society. She excels as an animal scientist and designer of humane livestock handling facilities and has an international reputation for her contribution to the livestock industry and animal welfare. The primary aim of this study is to describe and interpret the life of Temple Grandin through Erikson’s (1950/1973) theory of psychosocial development. A mixed method approach (Yin, 2006) was employed for the conduction of this study. The overarching data processing and analysis guidelines for this study were provided by Miles and Huberman (1994, 2002a, 2002b). The conduction of the processing and analysis of data was aided by Alexander’s (1988, 1990) method of asking the data questions as well as an integration of Yin’s (2014) time series analysis with Erikson’s (1950/1973) triple bookkeeping approach. This study contributes to the development of psychobiographical research in South Africa as well as to personality and developmental theory.
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- Date Issued: 2018
IsiXhosa ulwimi lwabantu abangesosininzi eZimbabwe: ukuphila nokulondolozwa kwaso
- Authors: Kunju, Hleze Welsh
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Language policy Zimbabwe , Xhosa (African people) Zimbabwe , Xhosa (African people) Social life and customs Zimbabwe , Xhosa language Zimbabwe , Language spread , Culture diffusion
- Language: Xhosa
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/7370 , vital:21250
- Description: Kuqikelelwa ukuba kukho amaXhosa (amaMfengu) angcambu zawo ziseMzantsi Afrika amalunga namakhulu amabini amawaka azinze eZimbabwe ukususela kwiminyaka yoo-18001900. Uninzi lwawo lufumaneka eMbembesi, eFort Rixon, eFilabusi, eKenilworth naseMotapa eBubi. Imbali ithi, inxalenye yala maXhosa ngawaseMpuma Kapa, afudukela eZimbabwe noCecil John Rhodes eqhuba iinqwelo kananjalo esebenzela uRhodes ngeminyaka yoo-1800. Le thisisi yongeza kulwazi olutsha malunga nala maXhosa aseZimbabwe, iphonononga ubume bolwimi, imbali nemvelaphi yala maXhosa azinze eZimbabwe lo gama ibonisa ukuba naphantsi kwayiphi na imeko, ulwimi luyakwazi ukuphila ngaphaya kwemida. Ulwimi nenkcubeko zingumtya nethunga, ngenxa yoko le thisisi yayame kakhulu kwinkcubeko. Iethinografi nembali yomlomo zisetyenziswe njengendlela okanye imethodi yokuqhuba olu phando. Iziphumo zolu phando zibonisa ukuba umhlaba, inkcubeko, iingoma, inkolo yobuKrestu, iincwadi ezingaphelelwa xesha zoncwadi lwesiXhosa, iteknoloji namakhasi onxibelelwano nomgaqo-siseko waseZimbabwe (2013) zibe zizixhobo ezidlale indima ebonakalayo ekulondolozeni nasekuphuhliseni isiXhosa eZimbabwe. Imiba ephathelele kumgaqo-nkqubo wesiXhosa eZimbabwe nayo iyaphononongwa, njengokuba isiXhosa ilulwimi oluthathwa njengolusesikweni eZimbabwe.Kusetyenziswa iithiyori ngeethiyori ezingobuni, kuquka nethiyori kaCollier (1997) apho abona ubuni njengolunamacala amabini; avowal kunye ne-ascription. Ubuni bamaXhosa aseZimbabwe buxoxwe ngokwayama kwi-avowal njengokuba uCollier (Ibid.) eyicacisa. Kwizindululo eziqulathwe kolu phando, kuboniswa ukuba ikho imfuneko yokuba iintsapho zaseZimbabwe zidityaniswe nezizalwane zazo eziseMzantsi Afrika. Ukufundiswa kwesiXhosa kwaneenzame zokusebenzisa isiXhosa njengolwimi lokufunda nokufundisa kwizikolo zamaXhosa ezikumabanga aphantsi kuyafuneka nako ukuba kuphandwe nzulu. , There are an estimated two hundred thousand South African amaXhosa who are mostly amaMfengu descendants living in Zimbabwe since the late 1800s-1900s. The majority are found in the areas of Mbembesi, Fort Rixon in Filabusi, Kenilworth and the Motapa area in Bubi. It is stated that some of the amaXhosa living in Zimbabwe came from the Eastern Cape with Cecil John Rhodes as domestic workers and on wagons during the 1800s. Therefore, this thesis provides new knowledge about amaXhosa living in Zimbabwe and gives an analysis of the sociolinguistic and historical background of the amaXhosa living in Zimbabwe while showing how a cross-border language can survive against all odds. The subject of culture has been dealt with as there is a reciprocal relationship between language and culture. Ethnography and Oral History have been used as methods for this research. The findings reveal that land, culture, songs, religion, South African Xhosa literature classic books, technology and social media, as well as the 2013 Zimbabwean constitution, are tools that have played a role in the survival and maintenance of isiXhosa in Zimbabwe. It also assesses Language Policy issues as isiXhosa is now an officially recognized language in Zimbabwe. Drawing on various theories on identity, including Collier’s (1997) understanding that identity is divided into avowal and ascription, the identity of the amaXhosa of Zimbabwe has been discussed in this thesis with an emphasis on avowal as discussed by Collier (Ibid.). Among other recommendations, this study further recommends that a research that looks at the reunion of the Zimbabwean amaXhosa with their South African relatives needs to be undertaken. It also recommends that the teaching of isiXhosa as well as attempts to make isiXhosa the Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT) in the amaXhosa primary schools and pre-schools also needs to be researched further.
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- Date Issued: 2017
A political history of the Bhacas from earliest times to 1910
- Authors: Makaula, Anderson Mhlauli
- Date: 1989
- Subjects: Bhaca (African people) , South Africa -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2548 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002400 , Bhaca (African people) , South Africa -- History
- Description: The Bhacas are people whose history has not yet been clearly written. Unlike the Mpondo, Xhosa and Thempu chiefdoms, the Bhacas are comparatively recent immigrants into the Cape area. The first chapter deals with origins of the Bhacas and introduces the reader to Bhaca affairs. The chiefdom is said to have been a victim of the disruptive Tshakan wars of the early 19th century, and Madzikane, who later on assumed the reputation of being the architect of the Bhaca nation, left Natal seeking a place where to establish his independence. He collected a large number of fugitives scattered in the southern part of Natal and migrated to the Embondzeni Great Place in Mount Frere. The second chapter concentrates on the habits and customs of the Bhacas. The Bhacas of Mount Frere district are divided into two autonomous chiefdoms according to the descendants of Sonyangwe and Ncapayi, sons of the renowned Great Bhaca chief, Madzikane. Bhaca customs are characterised by their First Fruit Festival dialect.(ingcubhe) and their distinctive Thsefula Then comes the era of Ncapayi who had been renowned for his warlike propensities, and the controversial Voortrekker attack of 1840. It was however, during his reign that mission work started amongst the Bhacas. This left an indelible impression among the Bhacas because Osborn Mission Station was established in 1858 during Mamjucu's reign, the widow of Ncapayi, many years after his death . The influence of missionaries coupled with the problems encountered by Makaula, Ncapayi's son from the surrounding chiefdoms, led to the acceptance of colonial rule. This leads us to chapters 6, 7 and 8 where the colonial government interfers in the Bhaca traditional administrative system especially in matters relating to the allocation of land, appointment of headmen, relations between Makaula and Nomtsheketshe and relations between the Bhacas and the Mpondo. It was during Makaula's regime that many denominations were established in the Mount Frere district. A great measure of credit should be given to these churches for placing systematically before the Bhacas the higher standards of belief and conduct. The history of Bhacas from the 1860's was characterised by change and modification due to the increasing contact with the white man's culture.
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- Date Issued: 1989