opening of the Origins Centre: University of the Witwatersrand,
Johannesburg
7 march 2006.
Director of Ceremonies, Gcina Mhlope,
Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Witwatersrand, Professor
Loyiso Nongxa,
Honourable Minister of Education, Naledi Pandor,
Honourable Deputy Ministers,
Premier of Gauteng, Mbhazima Shilowa,
Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Amos Masondo,
Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Director of the Rock Art Research Institute, Dr Benjamin Smith,
Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Archaeology, David-Lewis Williams,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen:
Thank you very much for inviting me to this important occasion, the official
opening of the Origins Centre.
The opening of this Centre is timely, following soon after the inauguration
of the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) and the Cradle of Humankind
Maropeng Visitor's Centre. These are very important centres because they
practically help to link the evolution of humanity to the creative genius of
our ancestors as represented by this Centre and to the origins of our universe
as seen from the glittering array of mirrors of SALT.
Indeed, we are very happy that we host these important centres because
through them we now have the opportunity to reflect on our past, to celebrate
the diversity of our present and to look forward to the future discovery of
awesome wonders in the universe of infinite time and space.
In his poem, Time, Gibran Khalil Gibran, writes about time. He says: "And an
astronomer said: âMaster, what of Time?â And he answered:
âYou would measure time the measureless and the immeasurable. You would
adjust your conduct and even direct the course of your spirit according to
hours and seasons. Of time, you would make a stream upon whose bank you would
sit and watch its flowing. Yet the timeless in you is aware of life's
timelessness, and knows that yesterday is but today's dream. And that which
sings and contemplates in you is still dwelling within the bounds of that first
moment which scattered the stars into space."
The Origins Centre exhibition is part of a repository of the measureless and
immeasurable. It is part of a stream upon whose bank we sit and watch the
flowing of human evolution, imagination and creativity.
It is a vindication and a triumph for visionary scientists, some of whom are
with us this evening, who have demonstrated unequivocally that the home of
modern human endeavour and creative expression has ancient origins in
Africa.
Through their dedication they have inspired a growing number of young
scientists to push the boundaries of evolutionary human biology and geography
beyond our wildest imagination.
Indeed, we salute all of you who have captured within this time capsule, the
Origins Centre, the measureless and the immeasurable. The Centre is a tribute
to all of you the archaeologists, representatives of indigenous communities,
architects, the landscape gardeners, the filmmakers, designers, conservators,
educators, renowned artists and museum specialists and staff.
Together, on a modest budget, you have created a unique and stunning museum
in Africa for the people of the world. It is an outstanding example of a
successful public-private partnership when our social partners, including
indigenous communities, academics and business join hands with government in an
equitable partnership.
Whether we are on the catwalk at SALT in Sutherland, marvelling at the
perpetual scattering and re-grouping of stardust in space or whether we open a
cabinet to unravel one of earth's mysteries here at the Origins Centre, we
cannot but contemplate our place in the universe, even as we continue to pray
for the realisation of today's dreams and hopes for each and every one of
us.
Our centuries old subjugation cast a veil of ignorance over many of our eyes
so that we only saw and heard what we were forced to see and hear. For many
years, the prevailing view echoed those of Frances, the daughter of Bishop
Colenso, who noted in her 19th century diary, as follows:
"These caves are full of coloured drawings by the Bushman, hideous
representations of eland hunts, cattle raids, or fights. Each one is uglier
than its neighbour. Because of our own ignorance, at times we fail to
conceptualise the sophistication expressed through our gallery of rock
paintings, hence the view that "each one (of the drawings) is uglier than its
neighbour".
This is clearly because of a historical approach and the failure to see the
dynamic relationship between the past and the present. After all, as the motto
of the Origin Centre says, "We are who we are because of whom we were"!
Tonight, we stand together united in our diversity in this Age of Hope. The
Origins Centre is a tangible and creative endeavour to illuminate our minds and
take us on a journey through the origins of time from these exquisite
landscaped mountain and desert gardens in the courtyards to the eloquent voices
of the San people.
Geoff Blendell of the Rock Art Research Institute tells a story of a San man
called Lindiso. In the early 20th century Lindiso set out from his home among
amaMpondomise. He walked several kilometres through thick bush, up the Inxu
River until he came to a remote and secluded rock shelter. Here he painted a
rock art image or two, adding to the already existing images at the site.
It is believed his was one of the last rock paintings ever made in South
Africa. Lindiso's painting brought to an end the world's oldest unbroken art
tradition, the San rock painting and engraving. Before him, Lindiso's father
had painted and before him, his father and before him his ancestors had painted
on Africa's rocks for 27 000 years.
Indeed, the tradition may be much older; the recent discovery of incised
ochre pieces from the Blombos Cave on the southern shores of South Africa,
strongly suggests that art and symbolic thought began here in Africa. At 77 000
years in age, these ochre pieces are the world's oldest best known human made
images.
The evidence from Blombos and other places shows that Africa was not only
the place where humans first originated but that it was here that the very
things that give us our humanity - art, symbolism, language, complex technology
first developed. Clearly, Africa is the home of humans and humanity.
Because of all these, our ancestors have blessed us with among others, the
250 000 rock art sites that experts estimate are to be found south of the
Zambezi River. The art is believed to be unsurpassed by any other rock art
tradition in the world in its intellectual sophistication, detailed subject
matter and complex techniques of rendering.
As we know, by the time Lindiso made his last painting, the San and Khoi
people had nearly been exterminated and most of those who remained had
amalgamated with their Nguni and Sotho neighbours and most of their languages
were close to extinction. All these led to the end of the vibrant tradition of
San rock art.
The aim of the Origins Centre is surely one of shifting our consciousness
and perspective on the customs and traditions of our ancestors. We have to
change perceptions about our traditions, which suffered as our people were
conquered and the hunter gatherers became the hunted, and the potters and
ironsmiths became the labourers and mineworkers.
The natural abode of indigenous peoples was treated, as 'No Man's Land',
freely available for conquest. Tonight, we know from the DNA/RNA strands
illustrated in the Origins exhibition that the blood of the San and the Khoi
courses through the veins of the diverse peoples of South Africa.
It is fitting therefore that the San !Xam language, !KE E: IXARRA IIKE,
resonates in our country's Coat of Arms as a greeting and an embrace reflecting
diverse peoples coming together as one, vibrant, united multicultural
nation.
Our nation is moving forward into an era during which the interwoven,
seamless histories of its peoples will be paramount in the formation of our
national identity. Clearly, we are, as a people, looking to the past to make
sense of our identity in the present.
I congratulate everyone whose collective human effort ensured that this
magnificent gift to the nation and the world came to fruition. I am delighted
officially to open the new Origins Centre at the University of the
Witwatersrand.
Thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
7 March 2006
Source: SAPA
