THE UN PEACEKEEPING METHOD
By: David Rilley-Harris, Curator, DITSONG: National Museum of Military History (DNMMH) After the shock of the First World War (1914-1918) the League of Nations was set up as the world’s first intergovernmental organisation designed to prevent conflicts anywhere on earth from
GENDER ISSUES IN REFUGEE CAMPS
By: Abraham Mohale - Junior Curator, DITSONG: National Museum of Military History Figure 1. World Refugee Day poster design. Word Refugee Day falls every year on 20 June. (Source: https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/world-refugee-day) Introduction On 20 June 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) joined the United Nations
THE ROLE OF USHABTIS IN ANCIENT EGYPT
By: Frank Teichert, Curator – DITSONG: National Museum of Cultural History Ancient Egypt, a civilization shrouded in mystique and grandeur, left an indelible mark on human history with its monumental architecture, intricate hieroglyphs, and enigmatic burial practices. Among the many fascinating
The Ingenious Design of Inuit Snowshoes
By: Frank Teichert, Curator – DITSONG: National Museum of Cultural History Snowshoes have been an essential tool for traversing snowy landscapes for centuries, particularly among indigenous communities living in Arctic regions. Among these, the Inuit have developed a remarkable style of
G5/G6 HOWITZER AMMUNITION
By: David Rilley-Harris, Curator, DITSONG: National Museum of Military History (DNMMH) (Picture: DITSONG: National Museum of Military History). The South African military developed the G5 and G6 howitzers in the 1970s and 1980s to keep up with developments in weapons technology during
DOES THE BROOM ROOM HAVE ANY BROOMS?
By: Lazarus Kgasi, DITSONG: National Museum of Natural History The Broom Room (Fig.1) at the DITSONG: National Museum of Natural History (DNMNH) is a room/vault named after Dr Robert Broom, a flamboyant South African Palaeontologist (1866-1951), and houses the earliest finds
THE CARVED KRAG JÖRGENSON RIFLE OF CHRISTIAAN BEYERS, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT-GENERAL DURING THE ANGLO-BOER WAR OF 1899-1902
By: Jan van den Bos: Curator of Weapons, DITSONG: National Museum of Cultural History (DNMCH) After the Jameson Raid of 1895/6 the South African Republic (ZAR) feared war and the Government began expanding their weapon arsenal. PJ Joubert, Commandant-General of the
THE TIMELINE OF MONEY DESIGN CHANGES IN SOUTH AFRICA BETWEEN 1652 AND 2023
By: Nthabiseng Nzuza & Julia Montlha, curators, DITSONG: National Museum of Cultural History Introduction The history of money in South Africa originated as far back as 1652 with the arrival of the first European settlers (Dutch East India Company) in the Cape,
CHRIS BARNARD (1922-2001): THE MAN BEHIND THE WORLD’S FIRST HUMAN-TO-HUMAN HEART TRANSPLANT OPERATION
By: Tinyeko Captain Ndhlovu, Curator: Insignia, Memorial Plaques, Postal History, DITSONG: National Museum of Military History Prof. Christiaan Neethling Barnard (see Fig.1) famously known as Chris Barnard was a South African cardiac surgeon who did the world’s first human-to-human heart transplant
Africa Month 2024
South Africa will mark Africa Month and Africa Day in May 2024, along with the rest of the continent. The month is an opportunity to promote African unity, deeper regional integration and recommit Africa to a common destiny. Africa month and