Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Interview with a Librarian/Archivist at SABC Platfontein

Moshe Maghundu
This interview is a continuance of a series of blog posts to gain a better understanding of the SABC Media Libraries and what we do in the different sections that we belong to.

We are also doing interviews with the regions as well.

The regions are doing things on a different scale, and sometimes they are multi-skilling on a daily basis, such as Moshe Maghundu, Librarian AND Archivist at SABC Platfontein.


Moshe, please tell us a little bit about yourself. (Where you grew up, where and what you studied and your work experience before you joined SABC Platfontein)

My name is Moshe and my surname is Maghundu. My parents call me Kxoegoe, a typical San name. I grew up in the Republic of Namibia and I went to school while in Namibia till grade 12. 
I continued my studies in Windhoek where I studied Theology at an institution called NETS (Namibia Evangelical Theological Seminar). I completed my Bachelor in Theology in four years.


While in South Africa, I got training at UNISA and I worked for the Linguistic department as a researcher in linguistics to the !un and Khwe languages of Platfontein. 
I worked with a video camera recording different stories of the San. I had to burn it on a DVD and transcribe/translate the exact story to English. The final product was sent to UNISA for further usage. 
That was my first work experience.

Please tell us more about SABC Platfontein. 


SABC Platfontein-X-K fm has staff members from two of our communities, the !xun and Khwe. We have 8 deejays; 4 !xun and 4 Khwe to enjoy equal coverage. In addition to that, the station broadcasts in Afrikaans as well and cover news in languages spoken in South Africa.
We have two programme producers for SABC education. Our programme coordinator is a man and a !xun and our station manager is woman and from the Khwe community.
The radio station X-K fm is outside of Kimberley; 7km from Kimberley to the direction of Barkley west and we are in the Northern Cape.

Please tell us about a normal day in your office. What library or archival jobs do you give priority to?

My daily duties in this office are very hectic because I have two demanding jobs.


Library: 
Deejays and the compilers come to borrow CDs.  
I have to issue out and return these CDs daily.
 I receive CDs from JHB which I have to capture or add shelf numbers on to the system and barcode them. 
I have to return these CDs to their shelves and make sure that they are available and accessible. 


Sound archives:
 I get recorded DVDs of preselected radio programmes from main control.
 I have to edit the archive audio and burn it onto a CDR, as well as design cover labels. 
The next step is the capturing [Cataloguing] of the information of these CDs on NDMP (Natural Document Management).
I do video recordings as well. If there is a historical event that happens here I record and keep it for heritage and archival purposes.


Recently I have started collecting the San instruments, their art work and even drums for the archive. 
This work is not specified in my job description, but I have realised that it is equally important as keeping the audiovisual heritage, for our elders are dying and these things might become extinct.

Tell us more about your collection and the scope of material you need to preserve in the library/archives.

I mentioned most already, but at the moment I’m busy with sound archives (audio).

Do you struggle with technical difficulties, and if so, what?

I have in my office the SABC Record Library computer, the archive computer with WaveLab software for sound editing and NDM for cataloguing. Attached to it are the audio mixer and Dalet (Digital Audio System) which I manage well. 
My previous studies helped me a lot, and SABC gives training to be able to be very useful and productive in all that I do.

If you have an anecdote about a specific piece of interesting information, please share it with us. 

One thing I have discovered about myself during my days with the SABC is the fact that the SABC is making me multi-talented. 
I have to go out with my colleagues on outside broadcasts (OBs). I do musical recordings here at the station. When we experience a power failure and the generator fails, I have to help them out by fixing the problem. 
When there is a Dalet problem, I run around helping the presenters /producers. I even assist with small problems with the computers.
 I never got IT training, but my background studies at college helps me with it.

Tell us why you enjoy doing the work that you do. 

One good reason why I enjoy the work I’m doing, is that I like very challenging work. The fact that music and broadcasting has always been my passion since childhood and finding me working for the department of my dreams is like a dream coming true!
That is why I am doing all that I am doing for the SABC.


Questions and blog post by Karen du Toit, SABC Radio Archives.


Monday, November 7, 2011

Pops Mohamed Music Project for the San at SABC Platfontein

Pops Mohamed in the SABC Platfontein studio
Moshe Maghundu, Librarian/Archivist at SABC Platfontein, reports about the Pops Mohamed Music Project.

Pops Mohamed is a local South African musician championing the African music culture through the use of indigenous African musical instruments.
Pops Mohamed being interviewed

"Update on the good things that are happening here at SABC Platfontein:
The studio at SABC Platfontein
We started with a music project with Pops Mohamed. He is training us on how to use the studio system to produce music tracks to record the culture and music of the San people.
It is like a dream coming true. 

I remember Rena and me running around to look for a sponsorship for the local upcoming artists of Platfontein to have a studio where they can record their own music.
Pops Mohamed answered the call. 
We have a studio facilities today and I believe that our music [music of the San] will soon be available.
We were able to record a track was composed the same day. I personally loved the mixing part. 
 It is wonderful to see the impact an individual can have in a person's life.
The San has access to music facilities in order to tell the rest of South Africa our own stories through music.
I am so inspired through everything Pops Mohamed is doing for our community, and it’s my prayer that the Almighty will use him to bring development among the voiceless." 

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

SABC Bloemfontein exhibition for World Day for Audiovisual Heritage


Mieta Motlhabane from the SABC in Bloemfontein reports about their participation in the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage

The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage brings awareness and importance of audiovisual collections. 
It allows us not only to appreciate watching and listening to our audiovisual collections more importantly, it tells us about who we are. 

The theme of this year was "Hear, See and Learn".
Itumeleng Maruping and Zoleka Ndamase with Miete Motlhabane
The exhibition featured the SABC's transition and migration of broadcasting technology. It amazed and intrigued the exhibition visitors. 


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