KZN bird book launched in heritage month

A NEW book entitled Birds of KwaZulu-Natal and their Zulu Names is being launched to the public by Jacana Media this Heritage Month.

This proudly SA book was written by a team of Zulu linguists and conservationists that included the renowned Prof Noleen Turner, Prof Adrian Koopman and Roger Porter along with a team of 18 Zulu-speaking bird experts, with the intention of aiding in local conservation.

The book’s release has been seven years in the making and provides names to over 550 local species.

It has already received much acclaim ahead of its release with the likes of John Fanshawe, past Chairman of Birdlife International, toting it as a possible blueprint to be adopted by other indigenous communities around the world, and Mark Anderson, CEO of BirdLife South Africa, describing it as “an outstanding and exceptionally useful book” that has the full endorsement of BirdLife South Africa.

According to the authors, the intention of this project is to inspire amongst the Zulu people a greater interest, awareness, and knowledge of the avifaunal heritage of KwaZulu-Natal and beyond.

ALSO READ: Vetch’s Beach activist pens book 

“One of the primary motivations in undertaking this project was linked to conservation. The integration of indigenous knowledge systems with Western knowledge paradigms is of paramount importance because certain traditional beliefs in KwaZulu-Natal are counterproductive to modern conservation practices. This currently in SA represents a fundamental shift from traditional conservation practices to a more holistic integrated natural and cultural heritage management approach. It includes not only the management of biodiversity in conservation, but also the pursuit of “social ecology” – the long neglected but crucial people aspect in conservation,” explained Turner.

Retired from the African Languages Department after 32 years of active teaching at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Prof Turner remains an active role player as Honorary Research Professor, published author and associate professor in Zulu Language and Culture.

It’s clear that Noleen hasn’t taken retirement literally as she continues pursuing her research interests in the various fields of Zulu oral traditions.

Prof Turner is also a keen birder and the original motivator of the Zulu Bird Names Project underpinning the new book.

ALSO READ: Book rekindles memories of Durban High School legend, DG Nourse

“The aim is to get this book into the hands of as many Zulu-speaking bird guides, safari guides, educators and members of the public interested in birds, as possible, so that the Zulu bird names can be widely disseminated and not lost. The ultimate goal would be to see this project adopted not only in other parts of Southern Africa in the other indigenous language groups, but also in other countries that have a dearth of bird names in their own vernacular languages,” the professor added.

Jacana Media, in partnership with BirdLife South Africa, are hosting a webinar on 30 September at 7pm featuring Prof Turner and some of the local guides who contributed to the project and book. To register for the webinar, click on the link: https://bit.ly/3iTQFqR

Birds of KwaZulu-Natal and their Zulu Names will be available online and on shelves in all good book stores stores from late-September.

The book is priced at R250.

Do you want to receive news alerts via Telegram? Send us a message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.

You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts

Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple