Humanities

New language resources for the four South African Nguni languages

Better technology tools are on the way for South Africa’s four Nguni languages. Research being done at the Centre for Text Technology (CTexT®) at the North-West University (NWU) is helping to fill in the missing links about how these languages are being used, which will in turn lead to the development of language tools based on the latest technologies, notably artificial intelligence (AI).

Submitted on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 16:07

North-West university scholars' work shines a spotlight on Indigenous African Popular Music

North-West University (NWU)'s Professor of Journalism, Communication and Media Studies, and Director of Indigenous Language Media in Africa, Prof. Abiodun Salawu and Dr Israel Fadipe, a postdoctoral fellow in ILMA recently released two volumes of their work on Indigenous African Popular music.  Titled, Indigenous African Popular music, Volume 1: Prophets and Philosophers and Indigenous African Popular Music, Volume 2: Social Crusades and the Future, the books illuminate the scholastic interest in indigenous African popular music.

Submitted on Fri, 07/01/2022 - 09:30

NWU student selected to showcase his modelling talent overseas

North-West University (NWU) student Tumelo Ndlovu has been selected to showcase his modelling talent at the International Arts Talent Showcase.

The 21-year-old model from Mokopane in Limpopo is a third-year BA Behavioural Sciences student at the NWU’s Vanderbijlpark Campus, and has graced various ramps throughout his modelling career.

Submitted on Wed, 06/15/2022 - 15:37

New book on community engaged research sees the light

The North-West University (NWU), in partnership with Van Schaik Publishers, recently launched the book Community engagement research in South Africa - Methods, Theories, Histories and Practice. This book is a collaborative effort by three editors, well versed in community engaged research.

The three scholars, representing various disciplines, are Prof Elize van Eeden from the NWU, Prof Irma Eloff and Prof Hanlie Dippenaar.

Submitted on Tue, 06/14/2022 - 14:56

From DJ to PhD, there’s just no stopping Hans

DJ Hans Kekana, better known as DJ HK, took off his headphones and stepped out from behind his turntables to receive a PhD in geography during the North-West University’s (NWU’s) graduation ceremony on 23 May 2022.

This adds to his already impressive list of successes in academic research, public service, the music industry, entrepreneurship and events management.

His journey

Hans registered for his first-year studies at the former University of Bophuthatswana (Unibo) in 1992 and joined the South African Student Congress (Sasco).

Submitted on Thu, 06/09/2022 - 15:33

NWU academic elected as chairperson of South African Indian Ocean Academic Group

Kgame Molope, a programme leader in the subject group Political Studies and International Relations on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, was recently elected to serve a two-year term as chairperson of the group of South African academics representing the country in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

Before his election, Kgame served as the co-chair of the Trade and Investment Facilitation sub-group of the South African Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group (SA IORAG).

Submitted on Mon, 05/16/2022 - 12:31

Poetry as a portrayal of life

World-renowned poet and writer Audre Lorde held that poetry is not only a dream and vision; it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before.

No one understands and resonates more with this saying than Dr Kezell McCarthy-Klinck, North-West University (NWU) lecturer, researcher, supervisor, mentor and poet.

Submitted on Fri, 05/13/2022 - 09:15

NWU mourns the passing of Prof Barry Hanyane

It is with great sadness that the North-West University (NWU) has learned about the passing of lecturer and political analyst, associate professor Barry Rhulani Hanyane.

He died on Wednesday, 11 May at the Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg after being sick for some time.

Prof Hanyane from the Faculty of Humanities’ School of Government Studies was a revered and esteemed specialist with a keen research interest in public management and administration.

Submitted on Thu, 05/12/2022 - 11:10