Aja Marneweck Archives - The Centre for Humanities Research

November 19, 2024

Puppet and Spirit: Ritual, Religion, and Performing Objects.

The CHR is pleased to announce the publication of Puppet and Spirit: Ritual, Religion, and Performing Objects, which includes a chapter by senior lecturer and convenor of the Laboratory of Kinetic Objects (LoKO), Aja Marneweck, and Handspring Puppet Company co-founder Jill Joubert.

March 25, 2024

Luyanda Nogodlwana wins Best Puppetry Design at the 59th Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards

It is with great pleasure that we announce Ukwanda Puppets and Design Arts Collective member, Luyanda Nogodlwane’s, award for Best Puppetry Design at the 59th Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards.

September 20, 2023

Award Announcement: Aja Marneweck, “Best Faculty Academic Impact: Creative Arts Output Award 2022.”

The CHR warmly congratulates senior lecturer and convenor of the Laboratory of Kinetic Objects (LoKO), Aja Marneweck, for being awarded "Best Faculty Academic Impact: Creative Arts Output Award 2022", at the recent UWC Research Recognition Award ceremony.

January 23, 2023

MAXEKE: “This work is not for yourselves”

This production premieres at the Star Theatre at the District Six Homecoming Centre (formerly the Fugard Theatre) on the 7th February until the 11th February 2023.

October 10, 2022

Charlotte Maxeke at the CHR: Boschendal puppetry workshops and exhibition

In September 2022, the CHR’s artists in residence Siphokazi Mpofu and Sipho Ngxola and LoKO convenor Aja Marneweck, ran a puppetry workshop based on stories of Charlotte Maxeke, with young scholars from the Pniel area, culminating in an exhibition held in Boschendal on 17th September.

September 21, 2022

Imaginary Futures Live Performance at the Global Peripheries Conference Paris

On the 23rd and 24th September, CHR’s Aja Marneweck will be collaborating in the Imaginary Futures project on live performances at the Global Periphery Contemporary Imaginaries of Space, Multiple Voices Hybrid Conference at the Leonardo/Olats Observatory of Arts and Techno-Sciences in Paris.

February 25, 2022

Puppet Walk and Performance at Boschendal’s Plum Harvest Festival

After the great success of the elephant puppet walk at the Boschendal Plum Harvest Festival in 2021, we will be celebrating this year’s festival with giant puppets to raise awareness of the living waters and aquatic life of our planet.

February 23, 2022

In the Press: Buhle Ngaba on CHR Charlotte Maxeke Production

CHR Artist in Residence Buhle Ngaba is writing a screenplay for a groundbreaking puppetry production on the life of Charlotte Maxeke.

December 15, 2021

What A Wonderful World

The 2021 Barrydale Puppet Parade and Performance centres on a family living in Barrydale and the connection a young woman has with an ancient indigenous tree, Old Gwarrie, as well as with the wonderful world she calls home.

May 31, 2021

List of Articles (2016-present)

Staff and Fellows of the Centre for Humanities Research regularly publish articles and reviews in local and international journals, applying the centre’s intellectual inquiries across a wide range of disciplines and interests.

March 18, 2021

A Celebration of Puppetry at the Boschendal Plum Festival

Life-sized elephant puppet Mnumzane strolled across the Boschendal Estate on Sunday 14 March 2021, accompanied by little elephant Alfie, their path criss-crossed by the boisterous Dassie puppet.

March 4, 2021

Animations and Activations: A Workshop Toward Embodying Memory Through Puppets and Plants

On 9 March 2021, the CHR’s Jane Taylor and Aja Marneweck will be participating in the puppetry workshop Animations and Activations with William Ellis (Dept. of Anthropology, UWC) and Marcus Neustetter as part of the Tri-Continental Partnership between the University of Missouri, the University of the Western Cape, and Ghent University.