Mansell Upham

Mansell Upham is a Cape Town researcher, jurist and micro historian, specializing in South African colonial history.

Also credited as Mansell George Upham or Mansell G. Upham

Biography

Born Mansell George Upham, he is a researcher, writer, historian and jurist specializing in South African colonial history. Born 1960 in Welkom, Free State, he grew up on the East Rand, Cahora Bassa (Mozambique), the West Rand and the Western Cape. He read French and English at the University of Stellenbosch (1977-1980). Thereafter he graduated with an LL.B (Stellenbosch 1984). Admitted as advocate (1988), he represented South Africa as diplomat in Tokyo, Japan (1991-1994).

A champion of indigenous rights and Khoe/San renaissance, he spearheaded the campaign to repatriate the unburied Saartje Baartman (1995) becoming legal advisor and representative in South Africa and the UN (Geneva) for the Griqua National Conference of SA and other Khoe/San representative groups (1995-2000). He also farmed at Helderstroom in the Bosjesveld at Villiersdorp and lectured (2002-2005) in Seoul, Korea (University of Kangnam). He is currently freelancing in Tokyo, Japan (since May 2007).

For more on his career see his website at https://www.e-family.co.za/ffy/ui46.htm

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Editor of Capensis (1997-2001), Upham has published a wide range of articles in Familia, Capensis, the Quarterly Bulletin of the National Library of South Africa and Antiquarius, Tokyo on early Cape colonial studies

He also publishes an online blog called Uprooted Lives... Unfurling the Cape of Good Hope's Earliest Colonial Inhabitants (1652-1713) and since 2019 he has been writing a blog called Muatze, providing "Cape of Good Hope research output … creative utterances … and musings miscellaneous …"

Among the entries are various items of interest to theatre and performance researchers, for example entries on the original performances of the seminal piece Kaatje Kekkelbek, or Life Among the Hottentots (1838-1844?).

Sources

https://www.e-family.co.za/ffy/ui46.htm

https://mansellupham.wordpress.com/about/

https://mansellupham.wordpress.com/author/mansellupham

Kaatje Kekkelbek, or Life Among the Hottentots – by Andrew Geddes Bain (1797-1864) featuring verbatim the original text (plus expanded English text) with explanatory notes by Mansell George Upham. Posted on September 19, 2020 by Upham on his historical blog Muatze[1]

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