Latest news with #FacultyofHumanities
IOL News
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
University of Pretoria awards honorary doctorate to poet Makhosazana Xaba
Professor Makhosazana Xaba, who received an honorary doctorate from the University of Pretoria, delivers her keynote address to the graduates Image: Supplied The University of Pretoria (UP) has conferred an Honorary Doctorate on Associate Professor Makhosazana Xaba, an award-winning poet, short story writer, essayist and editor, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to literature, feminist thought and cultural activism in South Africa. The honorary degree was conferred during the Faculty of Humanities graduation ceremony this month, as part of UP's autumn graduation season, during which more than 12,000 students will graduate. Xaba's literary career spans poetry, fiction, biography, and editing, with her writing known for its profound exploration of gender, memory, healing and transformation. Her poetry and short stories are widely celebrated for amplifying the voices and experiences of women in South Africa. Professor Kevin Thomas, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at UP, described Xaba as an exceptional literary scholar. Her short story Running and other Stories has been analysed in literary and academic journals and theses and is taught at more than five South African universities, and universities abroad such as Rutgers, Hawaii University and Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 'She has served as a judge for numerous poetry competitions – most recently the 2021 Brunel International African Poetry Prize. Her poetry has been translated into six languages. She has featured in numerous anthologies and has been a writing fellow at institutions for health and social and economic research,' Thomas said. Xaba meanwhile commented that literature allows us to reimagine ourselves and to tell the stories that shape and challenge us. 'I am honoured to receive this recognition from the University of Pretoria, whose commitment to scholarship, creativity and social justice resonates deeply with my own journey as a writer and scholar. This recognition affirms the power of words to build more inclusive and compassionate societies,' she said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Xaba was born in Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal, and is a trained midwife and psychiatric nurse. As an anti-apartheid activist, she went to Angola to be trained as an uMkhonto weSizwe MK soldier and then went into exile in Zambia in 1986. Following her return to South Africa in 1990 as a member of the ANC's women's section task team, she worked as a broadcaster at Radio Freedom, as well as with various local and international NGOs. She has also worked with media organisations in the areas of women's rights, gender, and anti-bias training, and violence against LGBTQI communities. Her literary body of work spans more than two decades and includes critically acclaimed poetry collections. Xaba's academic and literary achievements have earned her national and international recognition. She is the recipient of the 2014 South African Literary Awards (SALA) Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award for her short story collection Running and Other Stories, and her poetry has been translated into multiple languages. She holds honorary positions at various academic institutions, including being a Fellow at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Studies, where she is working towards a collection of historical short stories of the 19th century focusing on the geographical area that was later claimed as Natal in 1910.
The Citizen
12-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
NWU honours top scholar with doctorate award
One of the world's most cited African scholars, Professor Toyin Falola, is deepening his connection with the North West University (NWU) and its Mahikeng Campus in particular. Two years after delivering a public lecture on indigenous languages and global cultural shifts at this campus, he is returning to receive an honorary doctorate from the university. In recognition of a career that has shaped African historical discourse across continents, the university will present the degree during a graduation ceremony at the Mahikeng Campus on May 9. The award acknowledges Prof Falola's academic achievements, decades-long public engagement, and contributions to global scholarship in history and African studies. 'This is not merely an academic gesture – it is a recognition of a body of work that has deepened how we understand Africa's place in the world,' said Prof Mpho Chaka, deputy dean for teaching and learning in the Faculty of Humanities. 'We honour Prof Falola because his scholarship continues to shift frameworks, challenge assumptions and train the next generation of African thinkers.' Prof Falola started out as a school teacher in Pahayi, Nigeria, in 1970. He joined the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) as a lecturer in 1981, after completing his PhD in history. By 1991, he had been appointed to the Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at the University of Texas in Austin. His career spans teaching appointments at institutions such as the University of Cambridge, York University, and the Australian National University. He is a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, as well as the Historical Society of Nigeria, and holds honorary doctorates from 13 institutions globally. With more than 200 authored or edited books and numerous academic papers, Prof Falola is widely regarded as one of the most prolific scholars of African origin. His work engages a broad array of topics, including African intellectual history, empire and globalisation, religion, migration, and diaspora studies. Campus library is well stocked with his books In 2023, Prof Falola donated 27 books to the NWU's Mahikeng Campus library, 12 of which he either authored or co-authored. The volumes explore topics such as decolonisation, African politics, philosophy and historical methodology. That was also the year he delivered his public lecture on the campus, hosted by the Indigenous Language and Media in Africa research focus area. His global influence includes advisory roles for institutions such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, particularly on issues related to refugees, peacebuilding and cultural policy. The NWU honorary doctorate adds to a long list of awards that includes the Lincoln Award, the Amistad Award and the Nigerian Diaspora Academic Prize. For the NWU, the recognition is not only retrospective but forward-looking – part of a broader mission to honour scholarship that originates in Africa and speaks to the world. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Deans appointed by flouting norms in Kannur varsity, alleges forum
The recent appointment of ten deans for various faculties at Kannur University on May 3 has sparked criticism over alleged violations of the University's statutory provisions. Concerns have been raised that all appointed deans are from outside the University's own departments, contrary to the Kannur University first statute of 1998. The Chancellor had nominated 10 deans, which includes P. Rameshan for Faculty of Humanities, Manu for Faculty of Language and Literature, K. Girish Kumar for Faculty of Science, G. Kishore for Faculty of Sports Science and Physical Education, Shivarama Rao K. for Faculty of Sciences, T. V. Manikandan for Faculty of Fine Arts, Sathish Gowda N. for Faculty of Law, M. Bhasi for Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, Sreekala Edannur for Faculty of Education and Santhosh Kumar M.B. for Faculty of Technology. In a letter to the Chancellor Dr. Shino P Jose, convenor of UDF Senators Forum, stated that all ten deans appointed in May were selected from outside the University's own departments. This, he said, directly contravenes Chapter XIIm clause 4 of the statute, which mandates that deans must be appointed 'from among the Professors of University Departments.' He pointed out that 'University Department' is clearly defined in Chapter 1 clause 2(e), and again in Chapter XLIV of the statute as a department of study, research or specific purpose functioning under the direct control of the university and maintained by the University Fund. Citing these definition, Dr. Jose asserted that the current appointments were made in disregard of statutory provisions and called on the Chancellor to reconsider the decision in order to ensure compliance with the Act and the University's own regulation.
South China Morning Post
24-04-2025
- South China Morning Post
From Critical Analysis to Breakthrough: EdUHK Prof Erni's Research on Ethnic Minority Media Representations Reaches UN Forum
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Advertisement Despite Hong Kong's multicultural heritage, racism persists in the city's mainstream media. In October 2022, TVB, the largest broadcaster, faced public criticism for using blackface in a drama episode, shortly after an actress apologised for wearing brown makeup to portray a Filipino domestic worker. Recognising the void surrounding a sustained and meaningful debate on the problem of racism in the city, Prof John Erni, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at The Education University of Hong Kong, has emerged as a leading voice through his cultural research. His scholarly work that spans nearly 20 years examines how ethnic minorities are portrayed across Hong Kong's mainstream media. Through his research, he hopes to elevate public consciousness while fostering genuine cultural diversity within the city. Findings: Misrepresentation & Underrepresentation Erni's books on ethnic minorities Gaps: Lacking Connections Erni's findings indicate South Asians and other ethnic minorities in Hong Kong are consistently underrepresented and misrepresented in mainstream media. They are cast in roles reinforcing mostly negative stereotypes, mainly as criminals, gangsters or comedic characters, thereby contributing to their characterisation as the racialised Other. His co-authored book on the images of non-Chinese in four decades of Hong Kong cinema, citing Wong Kar-wai's Chungking Express, states: "The portrayal of South Asians was relatively negative and stereotypical. These characters were either drug dealers or thieves, willing to break the law for money." Erni added that while such patterns are not unique to Hong Kong, they deepen social divisions and perpetuate the symbolic annihilation of ethnic minorities. Advertisement Erni's research exposes blind spots within the media industry and in society as a whole regarding ethnic minorities' lived experiences. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the shortcomings. "The pandemic revealed our dangerous lack of direct connections with these communities," explains the specialist. "Their infection rates may have been disproportionately higher, but since statistics were aggregated with general population data only, we could not quantify the true impact."
