Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
The Amagugu International Heritage Centre (AIHC) is set to screen its landmark documentary “Kuyini Lokhu?! What Is This?!” on November 7 at the Natural History Museum in Bulawayo.
The documentary captures the centre’s compelling journey to document and safeguard ancient San rock art found in Ward 17 of Matobo District, a priceless cultural heritage slowly being eroded by time and natural elements.
AIHC director Allington Ndlovu, announced the upcoming screening, describing it as a pivotal moment for Bulawayo residents, Matobo communities and heritage enthusiasts alike.
The project, which blends conservation with local empowerment, produced seven canvases recreating San art, interpretive booklets and catalogues through AIHC’s publishing arm.
“This documentary captures the process of preserving threatened San rock art in Matobo, particularly Ward 17. It stands as one of the key deliverables of our project, honouring the legacy of the late Pathisa Nyathi, who championed meticulous documentation.
“One of the key things people will notice in these documentaries is that they form an important deliverable of our broader heritage preservation project. We embarked on this journey with the late cultural historian Pathisa Nyathi, who had a deep appreciation for the power of documentation. It became a deliberate effort for us to produce not only catalogues but also seven canvases inspired by the rock art.
“As Amagugu Publishers, we also took pride in producing a booklet that serves as an interpretive roadmap and tangible evidence of the work done in collaboration with the Matobo community. The documentaries highlight the creative interventions by Amagugu and its partners in response to the gradual fading of ancient visual art left behind by San communities that once thrived in the area thousands of years ago,” Ndlovu said.
Ndlovu highlighted the documentary’s role in showcasing a “creative intervention” by AIHC and its partners to help preserve San rock art, visual narratives left behind by groups that inhabited the Matobo area for thousands of years.
“Viewers will witness the project’s climax, from recruiting local participants and engaging leaders to the unity and knowledge-sharing that defined our work,” Ndlovu said.
What began as a modest initiative has grown into a powerful cultural movement, positioning local women at the forefront of efforts to preserve, interpret, and document the region’s fragile rock art — ancient paintings that have withstood the test of time but now face growing threats from weathering, neglect and modern development. The documentary also captures training sessions held at AIHC and the creation of seven canvases, which were first exhibited in June 2023.
The project’s impact goes beyond the documentary itself. AIHC recently donated some of the canvases to some schools, inspiring young learners with tangible connections to their cultural heritage and fostering pride in their ancestral roots.
Last year’s “Echoes from the Rock” exhibition at the same museum laid the groundwork for this documentary. The exhibition celebrated Matobo women’s evolution into cultural custodians, a narrative amplified in the film. — @MbuleloMpofu
