Hello everyone; just so you know it’s @Mavumavu91 here. I’m taking over in preparation for our #LanguageMatters series for Heritage Month. Come back at 6pm SAST Time and let’s start the conversation.

But before that, here’s a picture of me in the field and a brief bio...[cont]

I’ve worked in some of the most prominent hominid sites in both eastern Africa and South Africa’s Cradle of human kind. Sterkfontein, Gondolin, Rising Star, Laetoli, Koobi Fora. As far as I know I’m one of the only few geologists to work on both Cradles of hu(man)kind.

This has seen me collaborate with teams from all over the world; none of which are majority black African.

(Enjoy pics of the Koobi Fora Fieldschool representing about 7 countries and one with the Africans)

My research interests are varied; rift basin sedimentology and development, bulk and isotope geochemistry, geoarchaeology, sequence stratigraphy and provenance studies, basin history, hominin palaeoenvironments and paleogeography, carbonates etc.

I have a BSc triple majoring in Geology, Archaeology and Environmental & Geographical sciences. I have a dual honours in Geology and Palaeontology from Wits and a Masters from there where I did a Erasmus Masters mobility in Toulouse/Bordeaux, France.
(Pics of me at graduations)

My other occupation is manager of @NatGeo_Umsuka public paleoanthrology program which conveys scientific knowledge to the wider Cradle community in South Africa, a majority black space.
So, public understanding and transformation are valuable to me. And that brings us here...

As you can see I have mostly occupied white spaces/Eurocentric/colonial spaces. Therefore being a black African Zulu-speaking person, navigating this space has been.. uhm... interesting.

Theres a lot to mention on what we can begin to notice in a post apartheid, post colonial space but today we are concerned with #languageMatters; in every sense of the word. Terminology, phrases, translations etc. How and why it’s important and how it’s a powerful tool.

Also if you haven’t seen this yet; get into it. The First Lady of @DiggingInZA ( @Robyn_Angelique) is moderating and bringing some phenomenal guests #LanguageMatters https://twitter.com/heri_uct/status/1305791212801015809