History Through the Student Lens

By: Lathitha Matebese

South Africa possesses a rich and deeply complex history that is often left underrepresented in the media and in our textbooks. Orally passed-down memories often leave a gap in our knowledge of tradition and heritage, leaving misinterpretation and misinformation to flourish. The past often informs the future, and documentaries help keep stories alive, ensuring they reach new audiences. Every generation inherits the responsibility of informing people about history, and student filmmakers play a role in cultural preservation in the digital age by engaging in public and complex discourse. Student films are often reduced to academic exercises, but have the potential to rewrite history books and contribute to discourse that extends beyond the classroom.

The promotional poster of The Skulls of Xhosa Kings. Photo via Mmathapelo Ramoshaba

The documentary The Skulls of Xhosa Kings, produced by Rhodes University television 3 students, was directed by Lathitha Matebese and Kyle da Silva. On the 30^th of July 2026, the highly anticipated documentary premiered at Rhodes University in the Arts Major, uncovering the untold history of King Sandile and King Hintsa. The Skulls of Xhosa Kings presents the history, reveals the gory truths, and serves as an archive for the Xhosa nation, using a digital footprint to keep that history alive. The young filmmakers served as a voice for the past, telling the history, revealing truths about the skulls’ whereabouts, and seeking information from historians and royal families.

In a digital world where access to information is abundant, the Nguni are often neglected in terms of adequate representation in the media, resulting in a pool of misinformation and a loss of history. The creation of the Skulls of Xhosa Kings and the journey to reaching its crux proved that to be true. Young filmmakers ought to be the ones to fill in the gaps in history, as they are the ones to keep the rich culture alive and burning in the hearts of generations to come. Dr. Hleze Kunju highlighted this in his interview for the documentary, emphasizing the importance of knowing one's heritage and reiterating that being Xhosa is integral to his identity.

Young filmmakers and journalists carry the responsibility of informing the public about matters of public interest and of presenting the world through an objective lens. Documentaries often serve to preserve history, but with urbanization and the widespread availability of easily forgotten historical content, indigenous knowledge is under threat. When given a platform, young filmmakers fill the gap, retell forgotten stories, and keep history alive. Professor and historian Jeff Peires demonstrated this importance by highlighting the gratitude people felt for him for preserving some of the forgotten history of the Xhosa people through texts and recordings, despite the hesitation at the time.

The Television 3 students conducting an interview with Dr. Hlelze Kunju. Photo via TV3 class

The rise of Western influence on social media platforms such as TikTok results in a loss of emphasis on communal and collectivist values, and a reduced emphasis on local history and customs creates a disconnect between individuals and their cultural heritage. Digital platforms play a role in worsening the issue by pushing fast-paced content that pushes the Western narrative, neglecting the indigenous teachings. Student-led productions open space for fresh perspectives, create an archive of oral histories that are often lost, misinterpreted, or forgotten, and allow marginalized groups to have their histories captured before they are lost.

The Skulls of Xhosa Kings addresses the issue of lost cultural traditions and makes a splash in the waters of possibility for what students can create when encouraged and given space. The notion that one needs to graduate to make meaningful and impactful films deprives young individuals of the opportunity to engage their critical thinking and practical skills, ranging from budgeting and planning to peer collaboration and quick conflict resolution.

Documentaries serve as a preservation tool by capturing, protecting, and accurately representing cultural practices on film. To deprive the younger generation of participating in that means starving the mind of creativity, protecting marginalized perspectives, and denying them the opportunity to engage with history on a larger and more critical scale, which motivates them to be part of something bigger.

Article Edited by: Munei Zoe Mbedzi