National Heritage and Cultural Studies (NAHECS) (University of Fort Hare)

BIO

The National Heritage and Cultural Studies Centre (NAHECS) at the University of Fort Hare in Eastern Cape, South Africa was established in 1981 on the basis of the former Xhosa Literature Centre. The centre was previously called the Centre for Cultural Studies (CCS). The centre’s primary objectives were to accumulate, document and preserve oral and written literary material relating to the Xhosa language and to make it accessible to various researchers and the public.

In 1998, Council approved a name change to the National Heritage and Cultural Studies Centre (NAHECS). NAHECS thus became a heritage institution focusing on archival, museum, academic and heritage transformation, and has a developing research unit. In the same year the museum’s collections were unanimously declared a 'national cultural treasure' by Parliament. NAHECS aims to and has proven to be a significant player in the transformation of the South African heritage and cultural landscape.

The Centre’s collections include that of David Dargie, Archibald Campell Jordan and the Lovedale Press.