The Special Collections Book of the Week this week is:

The Bavenda by Hugh A. Stayt.

“This book was the first detailed ethnographic study of the Bavenda people. It pays particular attention to the double system of kinship groups, which is unusual among the Bantu peoples. Richly illustrated with over 60 black and white plates, the book discusses the history and geography of the Bavenda, as well as social, economic, religious, political and legal aspects of their life, as well as medicine, magic and folklore.”

UPSpace Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2263/59437

This book—a first edition, published in 1931—is available at Special Collections, housed on level 5 of the Merensky 2 Library, and is part of our Old Africana (ZA OUV) Collection.

The Special Collections unit of the Department of Library Services plays a stewardship role in the acquisition and preservation of the Library's rare and valuable information resources, making them accessible to students, staff and researchers, as well as safeguarding them for future generations.