Humanities News

Dr Muzi Matfunjwa – an activist for African languages

Dr Muzi Matfunjwa, a digital humanities researcher for Siswati at the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR) at the North-West University (NWU), describes himself as a language activist. He believes in the promotion of African languages, especially Siswati, as an official language and an academic discipline.

"I…

Repositories pivotal for language preservation

by Birgit Ottermann

Two researchers from the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR) at the North-West University (NWU) share their findings on the existence, use and importance of language repositories in the latest issue of the Journal of the Digital Humanities Association of Southern…

Southern African premiere of Your Hundred Year Life: A Film about Rethinking Ageing in the 21st Century

The North-West University's (NWU's) Optentia research unit and Corporate Relations and Marketing present the Southern African premiere of “Your Hundred Year Life: A Film about Rethinking Ageing in the 21st Century” at Killarney Cinema on 4 April 2023.

This groundbreaking documentary, created by Dutch financial entrepreneur, filmmaker…

NWU alumnus aims to bring Mrs South Africa title home

North-West University (NWU) alumnus Berlina Lekgethwane could very well be the next Mrs South Africa.

She has recently entered the 2023 competition and has advanced to the semi-finals.

Berlina, who was born and bred in Ramokokastad in the Phadi village, graduated from the NWU's Mahikeng Campus with a BA in communications and an…

NWU Vanderbijlpark Campus celebrates Water Week

To mark National Water Week, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Geography subject group hosted a water awareness event at the Vanderbijlpark Campus.

Water Week is a national awareness week celebrated in March every year, coinciding with World Water Day on 22 March. This year’s celebration also coincided with the United Nations’ 2023…

NWU IKS Centre teams up with DSI in developing indigenous knowledge-led smart village

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Centre has once again teamed up with the Department of Science and Innovation and Prof Mziwoxolo Mzo Sirayi, an adjunct professor from Nelson Mandela University, to develop a one-of-its-kind indigenous knowledge-led smart village in Nyandeni in the Eastern Cape.

The…

Low voter turnout: Education is how we fix it – North-West University

The punishment does not fit the crime. South Africa has an endemic, growing and unique disease that is not only affecting the health of our country’s democratic structures, but is also an ill-conceived form of retribution for the lack of service delivery. Voter turnout continues to decline, but abstention is not the cure for consternation. It…

Book explores the role of music in emotions

Music can alter our mood, as the phrase “music calms the savage beast” illustrates, for example.

It can set the scene for calmness, romance, learning and creativity. A new book by North-West University (NWU) academic Prof Conroy Cupido explores how four visual artists created original artworks about the meaning they attach to music and…

NWU academic joins judging panel for Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards again

North-West University (NWU) Prof Gilbert Motsaathebe was once again invited to be a judge for the Vodacom Journalist of the Year national awards. The awards ceremony took place late last year.

These premier awards recognise the best journalists across the country and across media platforms in various categories such as investigative…

Academic reappointed to Press Council

Prof Mpho Chaka, deputy dean for teaching and learning at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Humanities, has been reappointed as a public representative and adjudicator at the Press Council of South Africa for a period of five years.

The Press Council, the Press Ombud and the Appeals Panel form an independent coregulatory…