Reconnecting Through Heritage: Supporting the Matjieshut Project, South Africa

As part of the project Investigation on the First Indigenous Peoples of South Africa’s Built Environment and Dwellings in Baviaanskloof, the Endangered Wooden Architecture Programme (EWAP) was pleased to support the construction of a Matjieshut at Nelson Mandela University. The Matjieshut is the traditional dwelling of the First Peoples and the oldest form of vernacular architecture in South Africa. These dwellings are still in use only in limited part of South Africa, and the knowledge of how to build them is rapidly disappearing. This decline is the result of a long history of segregation and repression that began with the arrival of settler colonists in South Africa. This initiative builds on the wider research into First Nation dwellings led by Associate Professor Magda Minguzzi, in coordination with Gaos (Chief) Margaret Coetzee of the Inqua People, documenting one of South Africa’s most endangered architectural traditions.

Leaders of the First Indigenous Peoples during
the inauguration ceremony of the Matjieshut structure.
© Magda Minguzzi 2025

The Baviaanskloof project focuses on self-built Indigenous homes, structures made of bamboo, reeds, and mud, some of which date back over a century. These dwellings embody a building culture passed down through generations, sustained by the valley’s relative isolation. However, increasing tourism, economic change, and an ageing population now threaten the survival of these techniques. EWAP’s funding supported the first archival and documentary record of these unique structures, ensuring that knowledge of their construction is preserved for future generations.

In September, this broader effort was complemented by the Matjieshut workshop on Nelson Mandela University’s South Campus, which celebrated Heritage Month and honoured the traditions of South Africa’s First Peoples. Led by Prof. Minguzzi and the Indigenous Knowledge Systems of the Built Environment UNIT (IKSBEU), the three-day event brought together university staff, students, First Nation youth, leaders, and community members to construct a Matjieshut using traditional materials and methods still practised by San and Khoikhoi communities in the Northen part of the country.

The workshop emphasised learning through participation. Participants sewed mats, and assembled the wooden frame under the guidance of knowledge holders from Namaqualand. The process fostered collaboration between generations and demonstrated the relevance of Indigenous building skills in a contemporary context.

The completed Matjieshut was blessed in a ceremony led by Chief Jean Burgess and other First Nation representatives. It now stands as a public space for reflection and learning, open to all who wish to engage with Indigenous heritage.

A documentary about the event was created by the University's Indigenous Knowledge Systems of the Built Environment Unit, and students from the Department of Architecture. The documentary provides an overview of the construction process and the cultural significance of the Matjieshut.  

Video 1 - https://vimeo.com/1130843579?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci#t=0

In addition, a video by the students Laila Prince, Fayden Sefoor, Michal Davel, Naledi Mbovu and Sinoxolo Gaxa capture their personal perspectives of the experience of learning from Indigenous knowledge holders. Together, these videos highlight how the project inspired a deeper understanding of heritage among participants and the wider university community.

For the Endangered Wooden Architecture Programme, this project reinforces the importance of field-based collaboration between academic researchers, Indigenous communities, and cultural practitioners. Preserving traditional knowledge requires more than documentation, it requires shared experience and continued practice. The Matjieshut stands as a small but significant example of that philosophy in action.

If you would like to explore more about the architectural heritage of Baviaanskloof, visit the EWAP Open Access Database:
https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/endangered-wooden-architecture-programme/open-access-database

 

The working team photo: From left standing: Kim Harmse (IKSBEU-NMU workshop facilitator), Johnny Farmer (driver), Lucy Vosloo (IKSBEU-NMU workshop facilitator), Gordon Bottom (Knowledge Holder); Jason Jacobs (Matjieshut workshop facilitator and organiser), Hendrik Kriel, (Elder/Knowledge Holder), Margarietha Ida Cloete (weaver), Chief Jean Burgess (workshop facilitator and organiser), Prof Magda Minguzzi (Team leader of the IKSBE Unit and organisers of the workshop), Nii K. Botchway (IKSBEU-NMU) Graphic Design Coordinator- Arts School; In front: Hendrik T Brandt (Knowledge Holder), Ryno Cloete, (indigenous builder). © Magda Minguzzi 2025