Mapungubwe: Echoes in the Valley
The Mapungubwe: Echoes in the Valley trilogy comes to SABC 3 on Sunday 9 July at 9:30pm. This series marks the latest offering from acclaimed historical documentarian and producer Nhlanhla Mthethwa.
Cookie Mona, commissioning editor at SABC Education says “the documentary series raises the bar in historical visual documentation and will certainly keep viewers engaged as they journey into a proud but seldom told history of African civilization.”
Mapungubwe (contentiously translated as ‘the place of jackals’ or ‘the place where the rock turns to liquid’) was one of Southern Africa’s eminent pre-colonial state.
The formation of this ancient civilisation culminated in the establishment of a prominent sovereign state with its own political organisation and structures. The inhabitants of Mapungubwe were found to be master goldsmiths, stonemasons, potters and established a vibrant trading commercial network with China, India and Egypt.
In this three-part series, the canonical history, which has largely been written by colonists, is disrupted through the telling of Mapungubwe’s history through the eyes of the indigenous peoples of Southern Africa.
In this narrative, award winning director, Mandla Dube, interviews Southern African orators, archaeologists, academics, writers and historians that debunk the misconception that colonialism brought civilisation to pre-colonial Southern Africa.
Dube’s expeditions across the sub-Sahara demonstrate the extent to which Africa is replete with ancient dynasties and civilisations that precede Euro-American hegemony.
Mandla Dube’s exploration of the history of Mapungubwe comes at an opportune time, as South Africa is currently engaged in decolonial discourses that seek to reimagine the African image. In this context, this series contributes to Indigenous knowledge building.
Come with us on this journey of exploration and celebration of one of Southern Africa’s most ancient civilizations.
For comments and suggestions, e-mail us at mapungubwe@sabc.co.za. You can also #mapungubwe on social media. For further details on Mapungubwe, visit SABC Education site, www.sabceducation.co.za.
