In indigenous South African societies, totems (diboko) are deeply meaningful symbols that express cultural identity, spiritual beliefs and social belonging. They are adopted by families, clans or groups to signify shared descent and to mediate relationships between humans, nature and the spiritual universe. The majority of the totems are wild animals such as lions, elephants, crocodiles, kudus and monkeys to name a few (Lye & Murray 1980).
The term Queen is commonly used to refer to a hereditary female ruler or a wife of a ruler. However, not all female rulers or royals are called Queen. Some bear other titles, such as Princess or Duchess, depending on their rank and relation to the monarch. The titles of King, Chief and Prince are usually reserved for men. The distinction in title usage is rooted in historical and cultural norms, but some monarchies have adapted gender-neutral titles.
The Department of Archaeology at the National Museum, Bloemfontein, is involved in several projects aimed at reconstructing the behaviour and biology of past human populations, from the start of the archaeological record in the Pliocene period up into the ethnographic present of southern Africa.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines traditional medicine (TM) as “the sum total of knowledge, skills and practices based on the theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, that are used to maintain health, as well as to prevent, diagnose, improve or treat physical and mental illnesses” (WHO 2008).
I work hard every day to make my beer (umqombothi),
Wake up early every morning to please my people with African beer umqombothi),
I make sure the fire burns to make my beer (umqombothi),
My special beer umqombothi (umqombothi),
Is African beer.
We MaDlamini (everybody),
Uph’umqombothi (come and drink my),
We MaDlamini (magic beer),
Uph’umqombothi”.
(Yvonne Chaka Chaka’s hit song Umqombothi)