The role of literature in shaping the expression of Bantu political and cultural expression cannot be understated. South Africa’s history is fraught with the oppression of ideas and stories; in effect, this was a suppression of reality and truth that has lingering effects and requires our continued revelation. Indeed, as we move forward in a new century and a new political context, it has become exceedingly clear for us to press on with questions such as: what are the archives of our stories and histories? How can we continue to root their relevance and wisdom within our contemporary narratives? 

This aspect of Provenance Part II is a devotion to the role of literature as a tool disseminated and mastered by some of our histories’ greatest figures, under the auspices of a single institution that remains a through-line of people, politics and praxes. Lovedale Press and its pantheonic alumni edified Black, South African political consciousness and it is to them that we owe our visions for our future - least not, our transition into democracy in 1994. In this enclave, the ‘moodboard’ serves as a visual form of map-making, asserting the profound web emanating from Lovedale Press and throughout the rich, complex legacy of Black, South African political history. 

Lovedale Press, founded in 1824 in South Africa, was established by Scottish missionaries. The press became a vital tool for spreading literacy and nurturing intellectual growth among indigenous South Africans, with Lovedale's publications encompassing a wide range of subjects, from religious texts to literature and educational materials, contributing to the preservation and celebration of indigenous languages through textual means. While Lovedale Press was founded with the intention of spreading education and recording indigenous South African language, there were indisputable complexities and contradictions in its mission. Such mission efforts were always intertwined with colonial agendas and Christianisation, seeking to merge indigenous cultures with Western ideals. 

For the purposes of our research, we sought to understand the vital role that Lovedale Press has played in shaping the intellectual landscape of South Africa; as with Theme I, we invite the role of a dialectical view in holding such complexities involved in our history, particularly within the context of archiving. Lovedale Press is an institution that laid the foundations for future generations of scholars and leaders from its inception in the 19th century, and continued as one of the only publishing houses that printed in indigenous Bantu languages. Its role is sacred, as a site that continued to print textual works by Black South Africans, for Black South Africans, during the violent suppression efforts of the apartheid regime. This was a profound and courageous resilience from one, small printing press in Alice, Eastern Cape.

As a site of study and intellectual expression for an array of historical leaders, the influence of Lovedale Press served as the educational backbone for many activists and thinkers. Zachariah Keodirelang ‘ZK’ Matthews, a leading figure in the anti-apartheid movement and an esteemed educator, held teaching positions at the South African Native College, later renamed the University of Fort Hare in 1955. Notably, many future leaders of the African continent were among his students during his tenure. Matthews attended the Lovedale Missionary Institution, closely associated with Lovedale Press, and played a significant role in promoting African education and leadership - ZK Matthews would go on to become the first Black South African to hold a professorship at the University of South Africa (UNISA). Govan Mbeki, anti-apartheid activist and leader within the ANC, also received his early education at Lovedale Missionary Institution. His time at Lovedale exposed him to the educational materials published by Lovedale Press, shaping Mbeki’s intellectual development and commitment to the struggle against apartheid.

Other notable alumni influenced by the broader intellectual and educational environment of Lovedale were; the late, great Chris Hani, revered anti-apartheid activist and leader of the South African Communist Party (SACP), celebrated for his unwavering commitment to the struggle against apartheid and his pivotal role in mobilising support for the ANC. King Sobhuza II, the monarch of Swaziland (now Eswatini), a key figure in the struggle for independence from British colonial rule, known for his efforts to maintain Swazi culture and traditions amidst political upheaval.

Ellen Kuzwayo, prominent anti-apartheid activist and author, notable for her contributions to the women's movement in South Africa and her advocacy for gender equality and social justice. Ray Mali, the respected anti-apartheid activist and sports administrator, recognised for his leadership in the South African cricket community and his efforts to promote racial integration in sports during apartheid and beyond. Steve Biko, the esteemed anti-apartheid activist and a key founder of the Black Consciousness Movement, remembered for his powerful advocacy for Black pride, self-determination and political resistance against the oppressive apartheid regime, before his murder in police custody in 1977. Gladys Mgudlandla, the prominent anti-apartheid activist and trade unionist, celebrated for her leadership in the South African Domestic Workers' Union and her advocacy for the rights and welfare of domestic workers in South Africa. Enoch Sontonga, a composer and teacher, who wrote "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika," our beloved national anthem. Additionally Lovedale Press printed Imvo Zabantsundu, the instrumental Xhosa-language newspaper during the early 20th century, which served as an indispensable feature for the dissemination and articulation of political, culture and literary consciousness among Black South Africans in the pursuit of freedom and an autonomous future.  

Lovedale Press has been on a steady decline for the last few decades; as many traditional printing houses have faced a similar future of uncertainty in our readily digisting world. Initially, the feelings arising from coming into direct contact with their legacy rendered us fixated on the concept of ‘saving it’. Our own revelation within this process has lead us to seek beyond the ‘four walls’ of the institution itself; instead, Theme II intends to draw out the legacy of Lovedale Press and its alumni, and into a exhibition space, as we seek new ways and means of recognising the enduring contribution of Lovedale Press to South Africa's intellectual, cultural, and political heritage; as a guiding compass of enlightenment amidst the tumultuous history of our nation.