LARC launches uMhlaba Talks podcast channel!
On the 21st of May 2025, the Land and Accountability Research Centre (LARC) launched uMhlaba Talks. A groundbreaking seven-part podcast series dedicated to advancing rural democracy through in-depth discussions on land dispossession, traditional governance, and mining-affected communities. The launch event, held at Bertha House, brought together academics, students and members of civil society.
The event featured a screening of the first episode, Understanding uMhlaba with Professor Nomboniso Gasa. In this episode, Professor Gasa leads a compelling conversation on the historical and ongoing realities of land dispossession in South Africa, highlighting the role of politics as a tool in the continued struggle for land justice. The episode is currently available on YouTube and other major streaming platforms.
The second episode, titled Decolonising Land: A Spiritual Perspective on Land and the Intergenerational Trauma of Dispossession, was released on 20 June 2025. In it Dr Christie van Zyl (Gogo Bazamile), an Indigenous healthcare advisor and traditional health practitioner, explores the spiritual dimensions of land, its significance in African psychology and ontology, and its role in intergenerational healing.
uMhlaba Talks is available on YouTube (@LARCUCT), Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. The series offers thought-provoking perspectives on the deep connections between land, identity, and justice in South Africa.