Twin Mosia

Twin Mosia
Twin Mosia (right) with a Wikimedian at the Wikimania 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa
Born
Twin Mawela Mosia

17 July
Mamafubedu, Petrus Steyn, Free State, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
EducationIsizwe Setjhaba High School
Occupation(s)Museum curator, cultural activist, artist
Years active2010s–present
OrganizationRhino Heritage Park
Known for
Notable workElandskop Museum, Rhino Heritage community park development
Awards
  • National Heritage Council Golden Shield (2016)[1]
  • Mail and Guardian 200 Young South Africans (2017)[2]
  • South Africa National Kudu Award (2017)[3]
  • Heritage Association of South Africa (2016)[4]
  • News 24 100 Young Mandela (2018)[5]

Twin Mawela Mosia is a South African museum curator and Mosotho cultural activist from Mamafubedu in the Free State.[1] His grassroots work focuses on historical preservation, heritage tourism and knowledge dissemination.[6]

Mosia made headlines in 2014 for his participation in reenactments of the Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902) and the Free State–Basotho Wars (1858–1868), notably becoming the first black South African to take part in such reenactments, challenging the traditional racial exclusions from these historical narratives.[6] He began participating in the war reenactments in 2013 after he met Dr. Van Zyl at the Anglo-Boer War Museum in Bloemfontein, who encouraged him to pursue his passion for history and heritage, and he became known as the first black South African to portray roles in these kinds of reenactments.[7]

Background and career

Despite facing harsh socio-economic challenges, including living in a shack, Mosia has become a local hero in Mamafubedu for his work in reenacting South African historical wars, founding a virtual museum, and launching conservation and arts projects to uplift his community.[1]

Born and raised in Mamafubedu, Mosia developed a deep interest in South African history and culture from an early age, and his passion for heritage and storytelling would later develop into the prominent role of preserving historical and cultural heritage of his Basotho community.[1]

He first worked as a gardener in Vereeniging before becoming a miner at Anglo Platinum in Mokopane.[8] He then moved to Kolomela Mine at Postmasburg before quitting in 2015 to focus in heritage and museums.[8]

Through reenactments, educational programs, and digital exhibitions, Mosia has brought awareness to underrepresented narratives in South African history, particularly the role played by Black South Africans during the wars.

Museum and heritage work

Mosia is the founder of the Elandskop Museum, a heritage initiative based in a vandalised Transnet train station that he aims to transform into a local heritage site.[9]

He first gained recognition through his participation in reenactments of the Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902) and Basotho Wars (1858–1868)—becoming one of the first Black South Africans to portray these significant historical events. His work highlights the often-overlooked contributions of Black people during these conflicts.[10]

Twin Mosia with Wikimania 2018 participants in Cape Town.

In 2013, Mosia met Dr. Van Zyl at the Anglo-Boer War Museum in Bloemfontein and from there realized his dreams as a heritage preserver. In 2015 Mosia was invited to give a lecture at Sol Plaatje University and recruited the students to feature in a documentary shot at the Magersfontein battlefield. He has since been featured in two documentaries in the Netherlands, called Goede Hoop ("Good Hope") and Black, White & Khaki. The Goede Hoop was shown at Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.[11]

Mosia is an alumni of the 2018 Global Cultural Leadership Programme held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 2018 and in Brussels, Belgium in 2019.[12] Organised by Goethe-Institut in partnership with the Cultural Diplomacy, European Union, British Council, BORAZ Centre for Fine Arts Brussels, EUNIC Global, European Cultural Foundation, and Institut Francais, the Global Cultural Leadership Programme brought 40 young world cultural leaders in arts, heritage, culture, museums, environment, films, theater, and music together to discuss pressing global issues and possible solutions through networking, partnerships, and meaningful collaborations.[13]

He is also an American Express Academy for Emerging Innovators 2019 alumnus held in Nairobi, Kenya and lastly the Independent Curators International - Curatorial Intensive 2019 held in Cape Town.[6] In 2018, he was announced as Veldskoen Shoes ambassador.[14][15][16]

In 2024, Mosia was appointed to serve on the Free State Provincial Heritage Resources Authority council and to advise the MEC of Free State Department of Arts and Culture.[17]

Awards and achievements

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Man finds vision for the future in the past". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  2. ^ a b Two heritage activists make Mail and Guardian list of 200 young South Africans, The Heritage Portal. Retrieved 17 July 2025
  3. ^ a b Winners lead SAnParks in conservation efforts, SAnparks.org.za
  4. ^ a b Admin (2019-08-06). "HASA councillor Twin Mosia continues to make waves". Heritage SA. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  5. ^ a b "WATCH: Tackling Tata Madiba's history in the Eastern Cape". News24. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  6. ^ a b c "Twin Mosia - About". curatorsintl.org. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  7. ^ Meet Twin Mosia, Veldskoen, retrieved 17 July 2025
  8. ^ a b "Meet Miner Worker Who Is Trying To Make History, Literally". HuffPost UK. 2017-09-01. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  9. ^ South Africa's most endangered heritage sites, Biz Community, 7 December 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2025
  10. ^ Additions in the Boers War Museum makes it a must-visit, 29 November 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2025
  11. ^ Glorie, Ingrid (2018-11-08). "Twin Mosia brengt de geschiedenis tot leven - Voertaal". Voertaal - Afrikaans, Nederlands, gewoon voor iedereen. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  12. ^ "Twin Mosia". Culture in External Relations (Europe). Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  13. ^ "Two years of Global Cultural Leadership Programme". www.cultureinexternalrelations.eu. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  14. ^ Love for heritage, local products land Free State man a job, 23 November 2023
  15. ^ "MEET TWIN MOSIA". Veldskoen South Africa. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  16. ^ "Twin Mosia's Hiking Expedition". Veldskoen South Africa. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  17. ^ Rhino Park in Petrus Steyn to celebrate 200 years of Basotho nation, The Guard, 6 November 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2025
  18. ^ "Africa Youth Awards 2018 Archives - Ghafla! Ghana". 2018-12-14. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  19. ^ "SADC Top 100 of 2018: Trailblazer, Twin Mosia – The Young Independents". Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  20. ^ "2018 Eco-Logic Awards finalists announced". Bizcommunity. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  21. ^ 2020 Shining Stars PDF download, Inside Education, retrieved 17 July 2025
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