Young South African pioneers who are making a difference
Despite the various challenges facing the youth of South Africa, these young people are proving that a lot can be done to help tackle the problems in our fractured society. From social justice activism, saving the environment and discovering ancient artefacts to shedding light on mental health, these young people are a force to be reckoned with.
DR KENEILOE MOLOPYANE
Archaeologist and explorer (34)
Archaeologist Dr Keneiloe Molopyane is “advancing our understanding of the world and all that’s in it”. Those were the words of the National Geographic Society’s Alex Moen in May 2021, announcing Molopyane as one of the prestigious institution’s Emerging Explorer cohort. It’s the latest development in an extraordinary journey that began when Molopyane was a seven-yearold girl watching Saturday morning cartoons with her mother.
“We were watching The Adventures of Tintin: Cigars of the Pharaoh, and I was just captivated by the idea that one could go on adventures and discover ancient artefacts from lost civilisations,” Molopyane recalls.
“I didn’t grow up to become a journalist like Tintin, but hey – archaeology is just that much better!”
Molopyane obtained her PhD in biological anthropology at Wits in 2020: an achievement which is still all too rare for women of colour. As a black woman in the palaeo-sciences, she says she hopes that she has demonstrated that “there is a place for us in this field”, even if the journey can be lonely.
Indeed, one of Molopyane’s passions is the idea of creating diversity in the fields of archaeology and palaeoanthropology.
“There are many bright and talented individuals in the science that just need to be given the opportunity to shine. I was fortunate enough to be given various opportunities over the years, and have grabbed them with both hands,” she told DM168.
Molopyane is currently working as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Wits Centre for Exploration of the Deep Human Journey, and will focus on exploring the Gladysvale Cave system.
The caves are world-famous for having produced some spectacular fossil finds, including the remains of now-extinct animals, and a possible hair from the hominid species Homo naledi.
“I’m looking forward to see where this journey will lead me,” Molopyane says. “Dipping my toes into getting back into underwater archaeology has been at the back of my mind, but we’ll see how that goes. It’s been many years since I last donned my wetsuit, and [I] wonder if it still fits.”
Still, she tries not to let her excitement get ahead of her: “One adventure or expedition at a time!”
There are many bright and talented individuals in the science that just need to be given the opportunity to shine