Rondavels
From Mamelodi to the Presidential Library and Archives
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21608398 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Edwin Smith (0000-0002-8318-4137, University of Pretoria, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2022 |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 111-132 |
| Publication date | 2022-06-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | South African Journal of Cultural History (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1011-3053 |
| Publisher | South African Society for Cultural History (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.54272/sach.2022.v36n1a6 |
| OpenAlex | W4283814991 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 2 |
‘Rondavels: From Mamelodi to the presidential library and archives’ considers the \nrecently unveiled architectural design of the fi rst presidential library on the African \ncontinent, the Thabo Mbeki Presidential Library. It focuses on its positive reception \nin South Africa, Africa, and abroad against the backdrop of the history of the lapa \nscheme and the Mamelodi rondavels established in the late 1940s. The article \nquestions whether the vehemen t rejection of the Mamelodi rondavels by the local \ncommunity and the recent positive reception of the presidential library indicates an \nevolved appreciation of African indigenous knowledge systems and design. It also \nquestions whether such an interpretation of the use of traditional architectural forms \nis feasible. The amalgamation and adaptation of African indigenous knowledge \nsystems into modernity as part of the African Renaissance project championed by \nMbeki and the promotion of Africans’ sense of self and self-defi nition are critical \nobjectives of the library project. The article investigates whether a modernisation \nof African traditional design for contemporary sensibilities might be an evolution \nover time refl ecting the development of an awareness of the rich and complex \nheritage connecting South Africa to the rest of Africa and its peoples; or whether \nit refl ects a deeper appreciation of the connections between South Africa, the rest of the African continent and the world
Library science · Political science · Politics · Presidential system · Computer Science · Historical and Literary Studies · History · Law · Renaissance Literature and Culture
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,5 |
| Citation span | 2022 - 2024 (3) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |