[Translated to isiXhosa] UCT Chemistry Department Celebrates Africa Month Through Food, Culture and Conversation
UCT Chemistry Department Celebrates Africa Month Through Food, Culture and Conversation
The UCT Chemistry Department recently celebrated Africa Month with a vibrant gathering that brought together staff and postgraduate students to share food, culture and community.
The event featured an impressive spread of African-inspired dishes and treats from across the continent. Attendees enjoyed familiar favourites such as vetkoek, koesisters, samp and beans soup, malva pudding and peppermint crisp pudding, while also sampling new flavours including cassava, Mopane worms and Sabli cookies. The diverse menu sparked conversations about culinary traditions, cultural heritage and the rich diversity that makes Africa unique.
The celebration was organised by the Department's Transformation and Marketing Committee and provided a welcoming space for colleagues and students to connect beyond the laboratory and classroom. In addition to sharing food and conversation, students enjoyed working together to assemble a map-of-Africa puzzle, encouraging discussion about the continent's geography, diversity and interconnectedness. The activity added a fun and interactive element to the celebration and reinforced the spirit of learning and collaboration.
Chair of the Transformation and Marketing Committee, Dr Cesarina Edmonds-Smith, reflected on the spirit of the occasion by sharing a quote from South African anti-apartheid leader and Pan-Africanist, Robert Sobukwe: "Here is a tree rooted in African soil, nourished with waters from the rivers of Afrika. Come and sit under its shade and become, with us, the leaves of the same branch and the branches of the same tree." The quote served as a reminder of the values of unity, respect, belonging and Ubuntu that continue to guide our shared journey as Africans.
The Africa Month celebration highlighted the department's commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated, cultures are shared and meaningful connections are built through community.
Isebe leKhemistri laseUCT libhiyozela iNyanga yeAfrika ngokutya, iNkcubeko kunye neNgxoxo
Isebe leKhemistri laseUCT kutshanje libhiyozele iNyanga yeAfrika ngendibano edlamkileyo edibanise abasebenzi nabafundi abasele benezidanga ukuze babelane ngokutya, inkcubeko kunye noluntu.
Lo mnyhadala ubonise ukusasazeka okunomtsalane kwezitya eziphefumlelweyo zaseAfrika kunye nezimuncumuncu ezivela kwilizwekazi liphela. Ebebekhona bazonwabele izinto abazithandayo ezifana nevetkoek, koesisters, umgqusho kunye nesuphu yeembotyi, i-malva pudding kunye ne-peppermint crisp pudding, ngelixa bethatha iisampulu zezinongo ezintsha ezibandakanya icassava, iMopane worms kunye ne-Sabli cookies. Imenyu eyahlukeneyo ivuse iincoko malunga nezithethe zokupheka, ilifa lenkcubeko kunye neentlobo ezahlukeneyo ezityebileyo ezenza iAfrika e yodwa nenomahluko.
Lo mbhiyozo ubuququzelelwe yiKomiti yeSebe leNguqu neNtengiso kwaye unike indawo yokwamkela oogxa nabafundi ukuba baqhagamshelane ngaphaya kwelabhoratri negumbi lokufundela. Ukongeza ekwabelaneni ngokutya kunye nencoko, abafundi bakonwabele ukusebenza kunye, ukudibanisa iphazili yemephu yeAfrika, bekhuthaza iingxoxo malunga nejiyografi yelizwekazi, iyantlukwano kunye nonxibelelwano. Lo msebenzi wongeze into eyonwabisayo nesebenzisanayo kulo mbhiyozo kwaye womeleze umoya wokufunda nentsebenziswano.
USihlalo weKomiti yeNguqu neNtengiso, uGqr Cesarina Edmonds-Smith, ubonakalise umoya walo msitho ngokwabelana ngesicatshulwa esivela kwinkokeli yoMzantsi Afrika eyayichasene nocalucalulo kunye nePan-Africanist, uRobert Sobukwe: esithi "Nanku umthi omiliselwe kumhlaba waseAfrika, wondliwe ngamanzi aphuma kwimilambo yaseAfrika. Yiza uhlale phantsi komthunzi wawo kwaye ube, kunye nathi, amagqabi esebe elifanayo kunye namasebe omthi ofanayo." Isicatshulwa sisebenze njengesikhumbuzo semilinganiselo yomanyano, intlonipho, ukuba yinxalenye kunye noBuntu eqhubeka nokukhokhela uhambo lwethu ekwabelwana ngalo njengamaAfrika.
Umbhiyozo weNyanga yeAfrika uqaqambise ukuzibophelela kwesebe ekukhuthazeni imekobume ebandakanyayo apho kubhiyozelwa iyantlukwano, iinkcubeko kwabelwana ngazo kunye nonxibelelwano olunentsingiselo lwakhiwa ngoluntu.
