New Arts Faculty Dean Appointed

Professor Mogomme A. Masoga, has earned his academic qualifications at various institutions in South Africa and is also a C2 rated researcher according to the National Research Foundation. He commenced his duties as Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Zululand on 1 June 2019. He comes with breadth and depth of experience gathered over the years.

Outlining his areas of expertise, which include indigenous African studies, Africology and social entrepreneurship. He is planning to write three books that cover these broad areas. He also wishes to improve his rating when re-applying in 2021. He received a straight C2 when he first applied and this has encouraged him to work hard to improve this. Most of his work has been published widely in accredited journals.

Prof Mogomme Alpheus Masoga is an alumnus of the University of the Free State (UFS, South Africa). His doctoral research was entitled: Dimensions of Oracle-Speech in the Near Eastern, Mediterranean and African Contexts: A Contribution towards African Orality. His knowledge research, in particular the indigenous knowledge systems, were sharpened by a number of work experiences at senior management level. The latter ranged from managing the South Africa’s National Research Foundation’s Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Education Research Portfolios and the Research Manager at the Indigenous Knowledge Systems, having headed the Historical Sciences School at the University of the North, founded the African Renaissance Centre at the University of the North, directed the Research Department of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Religious, Linguistic, Cultural Rights of Communities (CRL Rights Commission), once acted as the Academic Journal Editor at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), supervisor of postgraduate students and external examiner of postgraduate studies. Professor Masoga is widely published in peer reviewed journals and book chapters. He has been the Research Professor in the School of Human and Social Sciences at both the Universities of Venda and Limpopo.

Prof Masoga strongly believe in an open door policy, “Leadership is both consultative and providing direction. Especially when it comes to policy related matters within the faculty. In short I believe that while I consult I should be able to drive since I am in a drivers sit.” Said Prof. Masoga.

Having spent most of his working life working a rural campus, Prof Masoga takes pride in that rural campuses have a lot to offer. Their location and status should also become an opportunity.” There are opportunities of rethinking the humanities and social sciences. Rural sociology and politics within the rural spaces could be some of the programmes that could be offered in this case. The other programme is Social Work – it could look at cultural-sensitive way of teaching and researching located within rural spaces. I have published a number of articles on Afro-sensed models and theory of researching – in this case I became conscious of the context and ontological basis of teaching and conducting research while noting the African communities in which such teaching and research happens.”

In years to come Prof Masoga envision a number of things for the faculty, firstly the reaccreditation of a number of programmes within the faculty and also filling in the vacant positions. “I am not Messiah and will depend on the support from my colleagues to turn things around. We have a gender representation challenge that need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.  All our HOD’s are males and this does not represent the faculty well. The issue of research output also needs to be prioritised. Both Local and international collaborations need to be created.” Concluded prof Masoga.

Behind the mortarboard, Prof Masoga enjoys singing and playing some instruments. He holds a MA (cum laude) in African Musicology.