Our Story: a momentous first in South African book publishing and education

For the first time a publisher — with the assistance of numerous authors, language and history specialists — is collecting, researching, collating and writing down many of the vast number of stories that together make up the mosaic of our past for stories that will be included in the new Our Story series.

The first 14 titles in a series that it is envisioned will grow to over 100 will be published by South African Heritage Publishers.

Each story is limited to 10 000 words, 48 pages, and includes 22 illustrations to lure even the most reluctant of readers into the text.

The Our Story series tells of the ancestors of all South Africa’s people and the events they lived through which shaped our country.

While developed with the young reader in mind, adults will also find Our Story an interesting and engaging introduction to our past.

The series is designed to be read either independently or as complementary readers and are ideal for either the Social Studies or English language classroom, providing as it does, the most relevant and interesting subject matter any teacher of these subjects could wish for.

Indeed the first 14 titles are approved by the Department of Education in the Eastern Cape for Intermediate and Senior Phase learners.

The initial titles will tell the earliest recorded stories of all South Africans.

* The arrival of the first Venda King, Dimbanyika.

* The Battle of Mhlatuze River, which saw the clashing of five great Chiefs, Zwide ka Langa, Shoshangana ka Khumalo and Zwangendaba ka Jele, all of the Ndwandwe on one side, against Shaka ka Senzangakhona and Mzilikazi ka Mashobane of the Mthethwa on the other. The outcome of this battle determines to the present day where the descendants of those who survived live.

*Two books each on Mzilikazi, Moshoshoe, and Maqoma – the latter, probably the least well known, who was, after several clashes with the British in the 1800s, one of the first Xhosa Chiefs to be imprisoned on Robben Island, where died.
In each instance there will be a third book published in the second wave of Our Story titles which will complete the story of their lives.

* Makhado, King of the VhaVenda and his struggle to retain land of his forefathers.

*Shoshangana, founder of the Tsonga / Amashangaan people, and his grandson Nghunghunyani.

* The Siege of Leboho, a moving tale of resistance by Maleboho, Chief of the Bahananwa, after the imposition of a hut tax in the Transvaal Republic. The event happened in present-day Limpopo.

*Sekhukhune of the Bapedi, including his clashes with the Boers, then the British and his imprisonment in Pretoria.

* Hope’s War, a confrontation also known as Dalisiwe’s War, between the British and a combined force of AmaMpondomise and AmaQwathi, which took place at Sulenkama, not far from present-day Mthatha.
All the events described, with the exception of the arrival of Dimbanyika in the mid-1600s, will have their bicentenary this century.

It is hoped that this series will embed the people and events described firmly in the minds and memories of all young South Africans so these ancestors will also be remembered and honoured.

For more information on this series contact South African Heritage Publishers at info@saheritagepublishers.co.za