Unisa online - Celebrating Archie Mafeje's intellectual legacy

Strong women supporting the launch of AMRI. Back, from left: Mandu Makhanya (wife of Prof Mandla Makhanya), Brigalia Bam (former Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission), and Prof Mamokgethi Setati (Vice-Principal: Research & Innovation). Front, from left: Joyce Seroke (former Chairperson of the Gender Commission), Prof Hlengiwe Buhle Mkhize (Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training) and Zanele Mbeki (former South African first lady)

Drawing intellectuals and leaders from different spheres, the launch of the Archie Mafeje Research Institute (AMRI) on 4 May 2012 proved that the drive for social transformation is still very much alive.

On the theme Archie Mafeje and the rethinking of knowledge in and on Africa: Past, Present and Future, the launch came about after intensive talks and planning. The institute has been established to become an African knowledge production think-tank that will provide thorough research in areas of social change to contribute towards Africa’s renewal agenda and global peace – a vision strongly associated with the late Prof Mafeje’s beliefs. Some of the pivotal objectives include knowledge creation in Africa; building, sustaining and strengthening Pan-Africanist research communities and promoting innovative ways of influencing change on the continent through research that informs policy processes and trains community empowerment.

Officially launching the institute, Prof Mandla Makhanya, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, said, “As a unique, dedicated social policy institute, AMRI is poised to make a telling impact on social policy research, development and implementation on South and Pan-Africa.”

Expounding on this mandate of social policy, Prof Makhanya admits that it’s not merely altruism in action, but instead a highly contested and often controversial terrain. “Rather, in a world focused relentlessly on self-development, self-promotion, personal acquisition, and shaped and directed by quite ruthless power relations, social policy is as much an urgent necessity as it is an oasis of benevolence and a vehicle for social justice,” he said.

Many fond memories were highlighted by the different speakers who were also friends of the late Prof Mafeje, including Prof Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, Minister for Medical Services in the Republic of Kenya. He shared at the launch how proud he is of AMRI, because the institute suits the memory of Prof Mafeje, and it addresses the concerns that he had over many decades. Sharing warm words, he said: “Archie was a very dear friend, an expert in wine and a renowned academic, and had a voice that was passionate about the creation of knowledge.”

Prof Hlengiwe Buhle Mkhize (Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training), Prof Mandla Makhanya (Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor) and Nkululeko Swana (Mafeje family spokesperson) taking in the words of support for AMRI

Keynote speaker, Prof Hlengiwe Buhle Mkhize, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, encouraged a similar belief system to that of Prof Mafeje where he interrogated his own discipline of anthropology. “He was a frontline partisan in the struggle for social justice; hence, his work remains relevant today and is a source of inspiration for generations to come. His work also becomes a crucial point of reference in our transformation agenda of the education system landscape.” Driving the point of transformation further, Prof Mkhize stated her belief that irrespective of the number of higher learning institutions coming up in South Africa, it doesn’t mean much if questions of transformation aren’t addressed.

She also made a plea that institutions of higher learning should be located within society as this promotes community engagement and development.

On a more sentimental note, messages of support for the institute and words of respect and love for Prof Majefe the man came through in abundance, including that of his first and second wives, Nomfundo Mafeje and Dr Shahida El-Baz respectively. A multimedia presentation featuring the late Professor Mafeje proved to be a wonderful introduction to those who never met him, while bringing back nostalgic memories for those who did.

Other speakers included Prof Jimi Adesina, Head: Department of Anthropology and Sociology, University of the Western Cape; Prof Puleng Lenka Bula, Director: Vice-Principal: Projects/Advisor to the Principal, Unisa; Dr Siphamandla Zondi, Director: Institute for Global Dialogue; Prof Sam Moyo, Executive Director: African Institute of Agrarian Studies, Zimbabwe; and Dr Onalenna Selolwane, Senior Lecturer: Department of Sociology, University of Botswana as well as Editor of the African Sociological Review publication.

Prof Archie Mafeje the intellectual, provocative scholar, political activist and the man: He was born on 28 March 1936 in Engcobo in the Eastern Cape and studied at Healdtown Comprehensive School; former pupils include Nelson Mandela and founder of the Pan African Congress, Robert Sobukwe.He obtained his master’s degree, cum laude, in Political Anthropology and then a PhD in Anthropology and Rural Sociology in 1966. Prof Mafeje’s name appears in the prestigious blue pages of the Dutch National Directorate.

He published widely on a diverse range of topics including book chapters and wrote a path-finding article, ‘The Ideology of Tribalism’.

Prof Mafeje died in Pretoria two days before his 71st birthday on 28 March 2007.