A transformative hub for research, advocacy and community engagement on African languages, arts and culture — preserving Africa's past and shaping its future.
The MER Mathivha Centre for African Languages, Arts and Culture (MMCALC), reconfigured in 2025 within the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, is a transformative hub for research, advocacy and community engagement on African languages, arts and culture.
Named in honour of Prof Matshaya Edward Razwimisani Mathivha, the Centre embodies a legacy of scholarship and activism dedicated to advancing African identity, linguistic diversity and cultural heritage.
The MMCALC responds to the enduring marginalisation of indigenous languages and cultural expressions despite constitutional recognition of multilingualism in postcolonial Africa, seeking to reverse this marginalisation by embedding Indigenous Knowledge Systems into education, research and policy.
Explore Our Focus Areas →A scholar and activist whose lifelong dedication to advancing African identity, linguistic diversity and cultural heritage laid the foundation for this Centre's work and vision.
The Centre cultivates cultural pride and expands perspectives in education, amplifying African voices and strengthening UNIVEN's role as a custodian of African heritage and a driver of inclusive, knowledge-based development across the continent.
To be a leading hub for the promotion, preservation and advancement of African languages, arts and culture.
To embed Indigenous Knowledge Systems into education, research and policy while promoting multilingual inclusivity and documenting African stories, artistic and cultural expressions.
Through teaching, research and community engagement, the MMCALC nurtures multilingual education, develops language tools and documents the cultural expressions that define African identity.
National and provincial heritage bodies safeguarding African cultural legacy and identity.
Language and arts departments collaborating on policy, curriculum and cultural programmes.
Museums, galleries and cultural centres preserving and promoting African artistic heritage.
UNESCO and African Union frameworks advancing multilingualism and cultural rights globally.
Partner universities conducting collaborative research on African languages and IKS.
Grassroots cultural groups co-producing knowledge and advocating for indigenous language rights.
We invite academics, cultural custodians, communities, government agencies and international partners to collaborate in advancing African languages, arts and culture.