Hewethu, ugoduka nini?

Sogaula, Sihle

Hewethu, ugoduka nini?

Thesis / Dissertation

2026

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Michaelis School of Fine Art

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

Hewethu, ugoduka nini? is a hybrid research and curatorial project that engages with the familial archive of my late mother's studio, Lindro's House of Fashion, to develop ukugoduka as a nuanced framework for working through personal and familial histories. Rooted in isiXhosa cultural epistemologies, the project honors my mother's creative legacy while proposing ukugoduka as both a physical return and a metaphorical journey of self-discovery and reconnection. Drawing on influences from scholars such as Noni Jabavu, Lebogang Kganye, and Santu Mofokeng, this work brings together personal and familial archives into an inquiry on cultural memory and identity. It bridges theory and practice through photography, curatorial methods, and creative making, challenging traditional binaries while foregrounding indigenous epistemologies. In part one, I develop a theoretical framework for engaging personal archives, addressing the preservation of history through lived experiences. In part two, I examine the curatorial gesture, considering how the book and the family photo album function as records that negotiate tensions between institutionalized histories and intimate memory. These forms of inscription open spaces where the boundaries of knowledge production and legitimacy are both upheld and contested, contributing to a localized and personal genealogy for contemporary scholarly and creative work

Keywords

ukugoduka

Reference:

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Masters

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