DOCUMENTING AND RECORDING ORAL HISTORY IN THE HLUHLUWE / IMFOLOZI GAME RESERVE: A CASE STUDY OF THE MAGQUBU NTOMBELA FOUNDATION PROJECT

Abstract

This paper highlights the Oral History efforts of the Magqubu Ntombela Foundation, which was established in 1995 and is named after a famous deceased game ranger from the Imfolozi Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Magqubu Ntombela, who dedicated his life as a game guard to wildlife conservation from 1914 to 1993. This Foundation intends to prevent the loss of records containing the history, culture and conservation of the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park area (HIP), which are reflected in the names of the places, mountains, rivers and streams as well as in the oral stories of its past custodians. It aims through projects such as the revision of the HIP area map as well as recording the oral narratives of the old and retired game guards, to preserve part of the ‘soul of the country’, which is in such danger of slipping away and being buried in the mire of modern technology. There is a great need in South Africa to safeguard its intangible heritage by collecting, recording and archiving memories of community members in different parts of the country. Conservation of these memories involves the extrapolation of oral histories, testimonies and personal recollections of the people and past events of this area. These memories richly enhance our current knowledge and understanding of this important wildlife sanctuary and can serve not only as a rich historical source of the people and places of the area but also of the flora and fauna.