Page 24 - Research & Innovation Report 2020

HUMANITIES

Africa’s oceans offer the world

cultural and heritage riches

As South Africa embarks on its oceans economy plans, it is essential that it includes social
science-led research on human cultural and heritage contributions to ocean conservation and
development.

“Given the history of South Africa and the continent as a whole, it maintains, the state has an obligation to adequately conserve and
is critical that vulnerable coastal and indigenous people’s voices manage both tangible and intangible heritages.
are heard and included in important decision-making processes
within the ocean economy, and the Chair seeks to foreground In a recently published article, “Including the Khoisan for a more
this,” says Professor Rose Boswell, holder of the SARChI Chair in inclusive Blue Economy in South Africa”, co-authored with Dr
Ocean Cultures and Heritage. This bilateral chair between the DSI/ Jessica Thornton, Prof Boswell discusses “the extent to which the
NRF and Nelson Mandela University was officially launched on 8 current national government approach to the oceans is largely
July 2021. economistic in its focus – looking at the ocean as an economic asset
rather than an asset enjoyed by a wide range of stakeholders”.
In terms of its global responsibilities, South Africa is signatory
to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Continentally, in the Chair’s words, “the research is aligned with
the UN World Heritage Convention. Consequently, Prof Boswell Africa Agenda 63, specifically the desire for Africa to be a more

Healer-Diviner in Tsitsikamma Storms River Village

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