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High in the mountains of Utrecht, KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), lies eMgundeni, a small village bound by resilience, memory, and a sacred relationship with the land. In 1999, under the leadership of iNkosi (Chief) Mabaso, the community reclaimed 1,472 hectares of ancestral land taken during colonial times. Yet restitution was only the beginning. Now facing climate pressures, limited livelihoods and the looming threat of coal mining, iNkosi Mabaso continues to defend the land’s ecological wealth and spiritual meaning for future generations.
Umhlaba Wokhokho: Land of My Ancestors is an intimate portrait of justice and stewardship where land is more than territory, but a living archive of identity, spirituality, and continuity. The film reimagines conservation through an indigenous lens, revealing how traditional leadership and scientific practice converge to protect both land and life.
Awards:
- Winner of the Documentary Short Award at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival
- 2026 SAFTA nominee – Best Documentary Short
High in the mountains of Utrecht, KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), lies eMgundeni, a small village bound by resilience, memory, and a sacred relationship with the land. In 1999, under the leadership of iNkosi (Chief) Mabaso, the community reclaimed 1,472 hectares of ancestral land taken during colonial times. Yet restitution was only the beginning. Now facing climate pressures, limited livelihoods and the looming threat of coal mining, iNkosi Mabaso continues to defend the land’s ecological wealth and spiritual meaning for future generations.
Umhlaba Wokhokho: Land of My Ancestors is an intimate portrait of justice and stewardship where land is more than territory, but a living archive of identity, spirituality, and continuity. The film reimagines conservation through an indigenous lens, revealing how traditional leadership and scientific practice converge to protect both land and life.
Awards:
- Winner of the Documentary Short Award at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival
- 2026 SAFTA nominee – Best Documentary Short