The third instalment of the Imibono Postgraduate Workshop was hosted by the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies (DHHS) at the University of Pretoria (UP) on 15 and 16 November 2024. Imibono is a tri-institution gathering of graduate students in History that Brings together Honours, Masters and Doctoral students from the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and UP. Conceived by the Heads of each university's History departments, the event is key in providing a platform for students to discuss their research and gain valuable feedback and assistance from their peers. This is the first in-person workshop of its kind in Gauteng and has shown steady growth each year, with the number of students submitting abstracts growing significantly.

The inaugural Imibono was hosted by WITS in 2022, followed by UJ in 2023 and finally made its way to UP in 2024. As was the precedent in previous years, students delivered a 10-minute presentation on any aspect of their research, sharing with their peers fascinating case studies and unique archival finds that cover an array of topics and thematic avenues. This year was no different, with the hosting committee from UP encouraging applicants to push the boundaries of their research and the broader scope of Southern African historiography. As is customary since the very first Imibono, all those attending voted on the best presentation. 

The outstanding presentations this year include Rachel Germond (Hons, WITS) for her presentation ‘Bodies of Knowledge: The Politics of Unclaimed Cadavers and Medical Ethics at Wits’ during which Germond emphasised the need to address the gap in historical evidence, showcasing in her presentation how historically ‘white medicine’ in South Africa has been advanced at the expense of black bodies.

Third Place:  Rachel Germond (Hons, WITS)

The runner-up this year was Unathi Funde (MA, UP) who captured the audience's attention with her presentation: “Beneath the Flames: The Social and Cultural Emergence of the Braai in South Africa” which earned her many questions and grumbling stomachs.

Second Place: Unathi Funde (MA, UP)

Proudly maintaining UP’s winning streak, with a third win for the DHHS, the Master's student Motlatjo Mogoboya clinched the top spot with her visually powerful presentation ‘Crafting A Living Heritage (en)Gendering Memory and Culture: The Mogalakwena Craft Project’. A reflection of her methodological and thematic approach to this community-driven visual history, Mogoboya gave us a sneak peek of the documentary footage which will form part of her final research submission. 

First Place: Motlatjo Mgoboya (MA, UP)

Ruby thanked the contributions of many hands, including the members of the organising committee and DHHS staff, in particular, Prof Karen L. Harris, Dr Nisa Paleker, Ms Zimkitha Tsotso, Ms Nusrat Goolam-Mohammed and Mr Hannes Engelbrecht for their assistance with the finer details. She further extended a special thanks to the venue organisers and TuksRes catering. A special word of thanks was extended to Professor Maharaj, Vice-Principal for Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Education stating that: “Without his support, the workshop would not have been possible.”

With the success of this year's Imibono in our minds we cannot help but reflect on what the future holds for our academic field and Southern African Historiography. ‘By the students, for the students’, is Imibono the future of History?

"It’s so easy to become disillusioned in a world moving towards the next technological development, especially with AI. However, the historical discipline remains an important consideration for our future and the curation of a historically mindful community is vital. Highlighting the variations that history can take particularly in relation to marginalised communities and hidden histories ensures that our past remains relevant. For me, Imibono this year truly embodied this." - Duncan Lotter (PhD, UP)

Professor Karen L. Harris, Head of the DHHS, commented on the importance of having more student-led workshops of this nature, saying that “it is important for training a new generation of historians and ensuring the continuity of the discipline” and emphasises that this workshop creates a space for collaboration and an engine to generate new historical engagement. WITS, UJ and UP look to the future for Imibono IV. The next stop is WITS 2025!