Honouring the traditions of South Africa’s First People, event took the form of a three-day workshop, facilitated by the University's Indigenous Knowledge Systems of the Built Environment UNIT, in collaboration with Chief Jean Burgess of the Ghonaqua Peoples and Namaqualand-based storyteller and cultural practitioner Jason Jacobs.
Led by associate professor Magda Minguzzi, the workshop brought together University staff and students, First Nation leaders, youth from surrounding communities, and expert knowledge holders from Kharkams in Namaqualand, Northern Cape.
Participants engaged directly in the construction of the matjieshut, learning techniques and traditions passed down through generations.
“The aim was to facilitate the cultural reappropriation of Indigenous knowledge that is rapidly fading in most parts of South Africa,” said Prof Minguzzi. “Students and community members gained first-hand experience of heritage that cannot be found in books.”
The matjieshut was constructed using indigenous materials harvested and prepared in Namaqualand, reeds woven into mats and wood gathered from local trees, just as the ancestors of the First People had done for thousands of years.
The process emphasised not only traditional craftsmanship but also safety and weather resistance, ensuring the structure remains a lasting, usable space.
“The hut was beautifully constructed, with patience, cooperation, and deep respect,” Prof Minguzzi said. “It is a tribute to the generosity of the Elders and Knowledge Holders who made this possible.”
The workshop concluded with a sacred opening ceremony, led by Chief Burgess and other local First Nation chiefs. Traditional herbs were burned and water infused with these herbs, was sprinkled around the structure in an act of spiritual cleansing and ancestral blessing, a ritual dating back millennia.
“It’s incredibly exciting to sit inside a structure our ancestors would have built,” said Chief Burgess. “We came together, tightening indigenous branches, weaving reeds from the river, to complete something that connects us deeply to our roots. This is not just a hut. It’s a space of knowledge, spirituality, and shared identity.”
The matjieshut now stands as a living monument to Indigenous heritage and resilience. Open to the public, it offers a quiet space for reflection, meditation, and learning, welcoming all who wish to engage with South Africa’s First Nations’ traditions.
The project was endorsed by multiple First Nation organisations, including the Eastern Cape Provincial Executive, Northern San Kingdom, Western Cape First Nation Collective, and the UNESCO UNITWIN network on Structural Restoration and Disaster Risk Management of Architectural Heritage.
“This project is about more than building a shelter,” said Prof Minguzzi. “It’s about building bridges, between generations, between communities, and between the past and the future.”