ABSTRACT

The Origins Centre in South Africa provides the visitor with an enjoyable, modern, stylish and educational experience. Given its name, the visitor could be forgiven for thinking that the museum is dedicated to the origins of humankind. While some of the exhibits directly pertain to this origins theme the majority focus on Bushman traditions and/or rock art, with a smaller number being dedicated to the traditions and/or rock art of the Khoe and Bantu-speaking peoples. This paper takes the reader on an excursion through The Origins Centre considering to what extent the museum “lives up to its name,” and if it achieves its aims as detailed in its vision and mission. Whether Bushmen exhibits merit prime location within the museum and the majority of the focus is also considered and given that the museum implies that there are no longer Bushmen alive in South Africa, observations regarding how the Bushmen are represented are made with recommendations for amendments offered.

摘要

南非的起源中心为游客提供愉快、现代、时尚和教育的体验。鉴于它的名字，参观者认为博物馆致力于人类起源是可以原谅的。虽然一些展品与这个起源主题直接相关，但大多数展品都集中在布须曼人的传统和/或岩石艺术上，少数展品致力于讲科和班图人的传统和/或岩石艺术。本文带领读者游览起源中心，考虑博物馆在多大程度上“名副其实”，以及它是否实现了其愿景和使命中详述的目标。