The Makgabeng Plateau in South Africa's Limpopo Province contains the largest body of African farmers¡¯  rock art in southern Africa. The art was created by Northern Sotho speakers and relates to initiation practices and forms of protest during the colonial era.

While previous research has typically focussed on boys¡¯ initiation, emerging research demonstrates that there is also art linked to the concerns of girls and women.

These findings have implications for studies of landscape, interaction, gender and feminism in rock art studies. The Makgabeng Community Rock Art Project also re-values the role of elders in sustainability of heritage tourism initiatives and the integration of a community structure as a sustainable ¡°ready-made¡± framework to heritage management in Africa.

The Project uses digital technologies to collect oral heritage in Makgabeng narrated through stories, songs, dances and poetry in order to help preserve African values threatened by the onslaught of Western ones.

Dr Catherine Namono is the principle investigator. The project is funded by the National Research Foundation.