Your questions answered about
Africa’s indigenous cultural heritage

Archaeological excavation by the University of Pretoria at the Maphungubwe heritage site, an area of open savannah at the confluence of the Shashe and Limpopo rivers in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, has revealed many of the things which were used by the resident Kalanga people. Amongst them are pottery, flattened arrow heads and spears, parts of hoes, other artefacts of Arab and Eastern origin from as far as Indonesia and China, and much gold work. The most famous artefacts found at Maphungubwe are a golden rhinoceros, a golden sceptre and a golden bowl.

Human remains were discovered, as well as a court sheltered in a natural amphitheatre at the bottom of the hill, and a royal graveyard at the top. Twenty-three graves have been excavated from this hilltop site, the bodies in three of these graves were buried in the upright seated position associated with royalty, with a variety of gold, copper, exotic glass and beads buried along with them.

The reconstruction and development of Maphungubwe, has also revealed that there existed an indigenous African stream of history and culture. As a result the Order of Maphungubwe granted by the President of South Africa, was instituted on the 6th of December 2002 as South Africa's highest honour, and is awarded for achievements in the international arena which have served South Africa's interests.

Pan-Africanism is a belief that African peoples, both on the continent and in the world at large, share not merely a common history, but a common destiny. It believes that economic and colonial freedom and therefore growth are dependent on the unity of all of Africa, and its diverse people.

The concept of Pan Africanism was born out of Ethiopianism, a political theory which propagated African self-knowledge, self-esteem and worth, a culture of self-reliance and the will for development and progress. The Pan African idea adopted these principles, and grew out of the political dimensions of Ethiopianism.

Pan Africanism has its roots in the struggle for the abolition of slavery in the Western world. The founders of Pan Africanism are men such as Richard Allen, an 18th century African American slave who taught himself to read and write, bought his own freedom, advocated for separate churches for black slaves and Caucasian people, became the first bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and formed the Free African Society of Philadelphia. Prince Hall, another 18th century African American slave who became the founder of Prince Hall Freemasonry, was a black Mason and slavery abolitionist who formulated a charter for the establishment of a black lodge of American Masons. Frederick Douglass, a 19th century African American social reformer and writer, Booker T Washington, another 19th century African American slave, who became a black leader, founder of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and advisor to Presidents of the United States of America. Marcus Garvey, an 18th century free man and founder of The Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)which aimed at drawing the peoples of the African race together through education, the promotion of African pride, worldwide commercial activity and the development of Africa. Garvey presided over the largest gathering of African people in the history of African slavery, when several thousand delegates came from all forty-eight American States, and more than twenty foreign countries on three continents for the first international convention of his flourishing Universal Negroes Improvement Association, where Garvey was elected the provisional President of the Republic of Africa. Henry Sylvester Williams, convenor of the first Pan African Congress in 1900. Bishop Walters, Chairman of the first Pan African Congress. W.E.B Du Bois, who opened and addressed the first Pan African Congress stating that racism (i.e. the colour bar) would be the greatest problem of the 20^th century. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first President and founding member of the Organisation of African Unity (O.A.U)who declared in reference to World War II, that after the war Africans would demand nothing more, or less, than their right to self-determination and human rights. He also convened the convened the first Pan African Congress of the newly independent African continent, which resolved to fight for the total liberation of the African continent in 1958. These men, among others, were the fathers of Pan Africanism.

Kara Heritage Institute is accredited under the following Setas;

1. Agri- Seta
2. and Cathsseta

Offering the following Qualifications:

• Heritage Practices L4
• Heritage Resources Management L5
• Craft Production L2
• Arts and Culture Administration L4
• Animal Production L1
• Plant Production L1
• Poultry Production L1

2015 Accredited Arts Administration-heritage practices and Theatre Programme

Programme Content: (one year full module theory and performances)

1. Script Writing and Directing
2. Theatre (Movement-Acting)
3. Arts Administration
4. Drama Therapy
5. Heritage Practices and Art of self development

Classes facilitated by experienced and professional practitioners, the programme runs from January to November each year followed by a graduation ceremony each year. Should the candidates complete the one year full course, maybe invited to participate in a second year mentorship advanced practices. All subjects are compulsory and students need to attend full time. Requirements: Grade 12/ equivalent or last School Report.

Tuition Fee R5040 at R420 monthly including once off R180 for 12 months membership fee on a separate membership form. Application forms  are available on request at Kara Heritage House, at No 65 Madiba Street (cnr Kgosi Mampuru) Pretoria central 0002.

For further information kindly call our office on: 012 323 7737 or email: admin@kara.co.za

Kara Heritage Institute Books Available:

By Dr Mathole Motshekga:

• The History of Karaism                                 R25.00
• The Path to self-knowledge                           R25.00
• Ubuntu                                                       R50.00
• The Footprints of the Rain Goddes                 R25.00
• The Mudjadji Dynasty                                  R260.00
• A Spirutual Paradigm for the African Century R25.00

By Other Authors:

• The Gospel of Mary Magdalene By Jean-Yves Leloup foreword by Jacob Needleman  R180.00
• The Gospel of Phillip By Jean-Yves Leloup foreword by Jacob Needleman                R180.00
• The Hermetica By Timothy Freke/ Peter Gandy                                                     R140.00
• The Egyption Book of the Dead By EA Wallis Budge                                               R260.00
• Mindprint                                                                                                           R280.00
• The Hyms of Hermes Echoes from Gnosis By GRS Mead                                         R110.00
• The History of the world Volume 4 By JM Roberts                                                  R260.00

The month of May represents the Great African Mother, the Virgin of the World the Canopus (Naka) star appears before sunrise on the 25th of May every year. This day, popularly known as Africa day marks the birth of the Word (Shema or Khem) of God. Hence, the first Season of the year is called Shema, and the 25th of May became Africa Day before the formation of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963. The light that emanated from the star Canopus on the 25th of May embodies the Word of God that produced the primal Watery abyss which, in turn, gave birth to the Sun.

On September 11, the primal Gods (Nutra or Ntura) give birth to the Sun God. The birth of the Sun God, marks the beginning of the African year which is marked by the passage of the Sun into the Southern hemisphere on the 23rd of September.

The indigenous African God Karast was born on the 25th of December. His birth was announced or highlighted by the rising of the three stars of the Orion, known as the Urhana or Orion's belt. The three stars symbolized the three wise men from the East who visited the Virgin Mother celebrated in May. Furthermore, the 25th of December marks the beginning of the first fruit celebrations, these take place until the 6th of January annually. During this time a heifer was sacrificed to God and the first fruits enjoyed by the King and the children. These celebrations also marked the beginning of the third and last season of the year.