Oral narrative

• Prof Jaco Kruger (North-West University)
• Dr Nompucuko Zakaza (Kei Road and Rhodes University)
• Mrs Nolubabalo Rani (Goniwe Memorial High School, Cape Town)
• Dr Nomusa Mdlalose-Dyantyi (Freedom Park Museum)
• Dr Pfananani Masase (Mashamba, Vhembe district)
• Prof Ndwamato Mugovhani (Tshwane University of Technology)

Our objective is to promote a prominent place for older and evolving oral narratives in science, education and performance spaces. We take special interest in song-stories of precolonial origin (Venda/Shona: ngano; isiZulu/isiXhosa: ntsomi; Sesotho: tsomo; Ndebele/Sesotho sa Leboa: nonwane; Setswana: leinane; also in Afrikaans and Khoekhoen), especially those that adapt ancient content and performance practice to contemporary experience and media forms.

Cultural tourism

From the Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law at the University of Venda:

• Ms Tondani Nethengwe
• Mr Fhatuwani Sumbana
• Ms Mkateko Nkuna
• Mrs Magdeline Maombe
• Mr Rofhiwa Khashane
• Dr Gift Dafuleya
• Prof Nixon Ochara
• Also: Prof Jaco Kruger (North-West University)

Our team is dedicated to developing oral performance (including storytelling, dance and musical performance) as an ethically-managed resource in the cultural tourism industry in the Vhembe district of Limpopo Province.

We serve as a resource centre for local tourism operators and entrepreneurs. To do this we are establishing a network of interested parties in our district, communicating regularly with them and putting our expertise at their disposal. We also intend for our project to develop our current program in cultural tourism at the University of Venda, with a view towards offering a qualification in this field.

Music education

From North-West University:

• Prof Mignon van Vreden
• Prof Jaco Kruger

We source oral arts to develop lessons in school music education. We support teachers who require teaching resources and skills.

Indigenous and cross-cultural perspectives in music theory

From North-West University:

• Dr Catrien Wentink
• Prof Chris van Rhyn
• Ms. Rineke Viljoen
• Prof Jaco Kruger
• Dr Cara Stacey

Our objective is to develop and apply indigenous and cross-cultural perspectives in programmes in music theory, orchestration and composition.

Life orientation in education

From the Faculty of Education, North-West University:

• Prof Julialet Rens
• Dr Hannelie Louw
• Also: Prof Jaco Kruger
• Mrs Nolubabalo Rani (Goniwe Memorial High School, Cape Town)

Our team supports life orientation teachers in the foundation, intermediate and senior phases. Regional oral arts once were at the core of the indigenous curriculum. Songs, stories, games and dances inculcated norms and values, as well as role allocations. They still serve this function in certain local communities, but are not always accounted for in the school curriculum. Our initial objective is to source teaching-learning material from Venda children’s ngano stories and songs.

Performance art

• Dr Cara Stacey (North-West University)
• Prof Ndwamato Mugovhani (Tshwane University of Technology)

Our team utilises oral arts to support teachers and musicians who require performance resources and skills.

Literacy

Dr Christine du Toit (North-West University)

The objective of the literacy project is to promote reading skills by means of indigenous oral narratives, with careful consideration of their content, style and performance practice. These narratives not only resonate with the social experience of particular communities of young readers, but also expand the narrative experience of all. The project’s initial objective is to source material from Venda children’s stories (ngano).

Wind ensemble repertoire

From North-West University:

• Mr André Oosthuizen
• Dr Cara Stacey

Our team sources African oral art for developing wind ensemble repertoires.