Celebrating Africa's Rich Heritage and Vibrant Culture

Continent-wide observance of Africa Month was also witnessed at CPUT, as the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FAS), the Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships (SIP) Directorate, in partnership with RLabs, Libraries Services and the Division of Student Affairs (DSA), recently organised a dynamic series of celebrations.

These engaging events brought together students, staff, community members, and innovators to celebrate African identity and foster collaboration, paving the way for a future filled with opportunities and connections.

Library Services and the SIP hosted a thought-provoking event under the theme: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063”.
The programme sparked important conversations around water security, sanitation, sustainable livelihoods and Africa’s collective future. Meanwhile, DSA invited departments and units to represent one African country through cultural displays, traditional foods, music, art, and interactive activities.

SIP, in partnership with RLabs, held its celebration in Westridge, Mitchells Plain. A key highlight of the event was a captivating performance by the CPT Ingoma Yesintu Cultural Society. Their traditional music and dance provided a powerful reflection of African heritage and identity. “Their performance not only entertained the audience but also reinforced the importance of preserving and celebrating indigenous cultural expression within higher education spaces,” SIP Director Dr Divinia Jithoo observed.

Prof Marshall Sheldon, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, emphasised the critical role of collaboration, innovation and community-centred partnerships in shaping sustainable futures across the African continent. Sheldon highlighted the importance of universities serving as active contributors to social transformation and knowledge exchange within Africa and beyond.

The keynote engagement featured Rene Parker, Co-Founder and Director of RLabs Global, alongside Jithoo. The address focused on the theme: “Opportunities for Cross-Border Collaborative Social Innovation within Africa.”

At the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre where FAS celebrated Africa Month with a science engagement event focused on Scientific Autonomy, Dr Thandazile Mhlongo from the Centre for Postgraduate Studies reminded the attendees about the importance of commemorating Africa Day, as well as the value of engaging deeply with the critical subject of scientific autonomy.

“Today’s gathering is more than a commemoration of Africa Day; it is a celebration of African excellence, innovation, resilience, and the collective pursuit of knowledge that can shape the future of our continent. As we engage in discussions on scientific autonomy, we are reminded of the importance of developing African-led solutions, strengthening research capacity and fostering collaborations that respond to the unique challenges and opportunities within our continent and the communities at large.”

Tobi Mzobe, from the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions, provided a compelling and nuanced understanding of scientific autonomy in the African context. “Drawing on evidence from a two-year study, he highlighted the challenges and gaps that characterise and threaten educational, professional, and scientific spaces across the continent,” Dr Ignatius Khan Ticha, Faculty of Applied Sciences Language Coordinator, noted.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
Email: BoyceAp@cput.ac.za