Variability of stable-carbon isotopic pattern of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.): A natural palaeoclimatic proxy for the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape, Limpopo province, South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 404 ◽  
pp. 190-191
Author(s):  
P. Zisadza-Gandiwa ◽  
J.M. Finch ◽  
S. Woodborne ◽  
G. Hall
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 873-882
Author(s):  
M. G. Mathaba ◽  
Sejabaledi Agnes Rankoana ◽  
Martin Potgieter

Most communities in Africa are transitioning from traditional culture to a western-orientated lifestyle. Traditionally throughout Africa, the baobab (Adansonia digitata) is venerated for its size and longevity, and as such are indelibly embedded in the culture. However, the shift in cultural identity and lifestyle has disconnected numerous communities across Africa from this iconic tree. Thus an investigation was conducted in the Sagole community, Limpopo Province, South Africa to ascertain the level of knowledge of, and cultural value this community still attaches to the baobab. Results indicate that people aged 18-45 are not closely associated with tree species, and lacked significant cultural information. Only the older generation (older than 65 years) still had a strong cultural relationship. Elders from the community are the most knowledgeable with respect to cultural stories, and it is predominantly these elders that inform the younger generations regarding different culturally-bound stories related to the baobab tree. People of Sagole are not fully aware of taboos that relate to the baobab. This disconnect can be traced back to a society in transition from a traditional way of lifestyle to a western-orientated lifestyle, and the consequent uncoupling of generations. Ultimately this will lead to a significant loss of cultural information, cultural identity, the cohesiveness of communities, and environmental degradation in the Sagole community.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 789-810
Author(s):  
SEBUA SILAS SEMENYA ◽  
ALFRED MAROYI

Abstract. Semenya SS, Maroyi A. 2019. Source, harvesting, conservation status, threats and management of indigenous plant used for respiratory infections and related symptoms in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Biodiversitas 20: 789-810. This survey explored Bapedi traditional healer’s (THs) practices pertinent to native plants used to treat respiratory infections (RIs) and related symptoms (RSs). Semi-structured questionnaires and participatory observations were used to gather information from 240 THs in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. 186 plants from 75 families were harvested by these THs, mainly from the communal lands (81.2%), throughout the year. Plant parts used for RIs and RSs remedies was destructively harvested in wilderness compared to homegardens. Most (n=174) species from which these parts are obtained appears on the South African National Red Data List of plants, with 88.5% having a list concern status. This included Adansonia digitata, Boscia albitrunca, Catha edulis, Securidaca longepedunculata and Sclerocarya birrea which are also protected under the National Forest Act of 1998 (Act no. 84 of 1998). A further, 8.6% (n=15) of Red Data Listed plants are of conservation concern, with various status namely near threatened (38.3%), declining (20%), data deficient (13.3%), critically endangered and vulnerable (3.3%, for each), as well as endangered (6.6%). There were both consensus and disjunction amongst THs and Red Data List regarding the status of plants in the wild. This study provides valuable data for the conservation of medicinal plants in Limpopo Province.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mamakota Maggie Molepo ◽  
Faniswa Honest Mfidi

Mental illness is more than just the diagnosis to an individual – it also has an impact on the social functioning of the family at large. When a parent or relative has a mental illness, all other family members are affected, even the children. The purpose of the study was to provide insight into the lived experiences of young people who live with mental healthcare users and the way in which their daily coping can be maximised. A qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological research was undertaken to explore and describe the lived experiences of young people who live with mental healthcare users in the Limpopo province, South Africa. Audiotaped, unstructured in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 young people who grew up and lived with a family member who is a mental healthcare user in their homes, until data saturation was reached. A content analysis was used to derive themes from the collected qualitative data. Four major themes emerged as features reflective of the young people’s daily living with mental healthcare user, namely psychological effects, added responsibilities, effects on school performances, and support systems. This study recommends that support networks for young people be established through multidisciplinary team involvement and collaboration and the provision of burden-sharing or a relief system during times of need. With the availability of healthy coping mechanisms and support systems, the daily living situations and coping of young people could be maximised, thereby improving their quality of life while living with their family members with mental illness.


2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Foreman Bandama ◽  
Shadreck Chirikure ◽  
Simon Hall

The Southern Waterberg in Limpopo Province is archaeologically rich, especially when it comes to evidence of pre-colonial mining and metal working. Geologically, the area hosts important mineral resources such as copper, tin and iron which were smelted by agriculturalists in the precolonial period. In this region however, tin seems to be the major attraction given that Rooiberg is still the only source of cassiterite in southern Africa to have provided evidence of mining before European colonization. This paper reports the results of archaeological and archaeometallurgical work which was carried out in order to reconstruct the technology of metalworking as well as the cultural interaction in the study area and beyond. The ceramic evidence shows that from the Eiland Phase (1000–1300 AD) onwards there was cross borrowing of characteristic decorative traits amongst extant groups that later on culminated in the creation of a new ceramic group known as Rooiberg. In terms of mining and metal working, XRF and SEM analyses, when coupled with optical microscopy, indicate the use of indigenous bloomery techniques that are widespread in pre-colonial southern Africa. Tin and bronze production was also represented and their production remains also pin down this metallurgy to particular sites and excludes the possibility of importing of finished tin and bronze objects into this area.


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