The work of local historian and well-known personality Ebrahim Rhoda was recognised recently, when he received a National Heritage Award in the category Ubuntu Honour at the National Heritage Golden Shield Awards.
He was a joint winner in the category along with Dr Janette Deacon, an archaeologist specialising in heritage management and rock art conservation.
The National Heritage Council (NHC) hosts the National Heritage Golden Shield Awards to promote community awareness of the diverse cultural heritages of South Africa and the roles different stakeholders play in protecting, preserving and promoting heritage. It also recognises projects that reflect best practice in protecting, preserving, conserving and promoting heritage.
The NHC has been consistent in honouring ground breakers and pioneers for their selfless roles they played in the management of heritage of the South Africans, especially areas which were not fairly recognised.
In a letter addressed to Rhoda it was noted that “the NHC values the role you played, and continue to play, in heritage management, even after retirement, focusing on the preservation of the marginalised Khoisan heritage.”
Icons such as former President Kaunda of Zambia, President Nelson Mandela, former UN Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros Galli, Prof Muxe Nkondo, to name a few, were honoured with this prestigious Ubuntu Award.
Rhoda was recognised for his role in “reviving and writing about the endangered history of the Muslim community, from “slavery to citizenship” as well as the promotion of research focusing on genealogy, in which some families are able to trace their ancestors to slaves coming all the way from what is currently Indonesia.”
