Assisting on the building of sanitation structures at a school in Elliotdale.
Hombakazi Mercy Nqandeka, from South Africa, is pursuing her PhD at Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Growing up in a rural community shaped by cultural traditions and socio-economic challenges, Hombakazi developed a passion for exploring resilience within indigenous knowledge systems. Her PhD research focuses on the perspectives of AmaBomvana healers, a subgroup of AmaXhosa, examining their contributions to health and well-being amidst modern challenges.
Hombakazi holds a double master’s degree in agricultural climate change transition from the University of Galway, Ireland, and SupAgro Montpellier, France, and a bachelor’s degree with honours in crop and soil science from the University of Fort Hare. Currently, she serves as the interim executive officer manager for the Vice Chancellor’s Office at the University of Fort Hare, balancing administrative responsibilities with her academic pursuits.
Book signing and interaction at the Kingsmead Book Festival in Johannesburg, 2023. Among other topics, the book explores the role of Xhosa women in their culture, critiques their current oppression, and proposes paths toward empowerment and equality.
Hombakazi is an accomplished author, with three books to her name: The Dissonant Rainbow (2019), To My Young Self (2020), and Don’t Upset ooMalume: A Guide to Stepping Up Your Xhosa Game (2022). Through her writing, she amplifies cultural narratives, gender issues, and rural livelihoods. Beyond academia and authorship, she founded Homba Crafts, a bead-making company celebrated for its beaded stethoscopes that blend cultural artistry with practicality, while empowering rural women to preserve the endangered craft traditions of the Xhosa people.
