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red
blanket valley
JOAN BROSTER
Joan Broster - 2005
Joan Broster - Circa 1960
Red
Blanket Valley is an eye-witness account of life on an isolated trading
station in the Transkei, where for 14 years Joan Broster lived with her
husband. Portraits of tribally dressed people are found throughout this
long out of print book. (Published 1967)
Joan Broster details many
aspects of the daily life and customs with regards to tribal
rites, rituals, ancestral spirits and various ceremonies. She placed
special emphasis on beadwork. She was was
born in Engcobo Transkei in 1916 and grew up there. Her parents James
and Beatrice Clarke were traders. In 1938
she received a diploma from Rhodes University in Grahamstown. During the war
she served as a nurse with the South African Military Nursing Service. Between
the years 1952 and 1966, Joan and her husband Broughton Broster, ran the Qebe
Trading Store at Qebe, situated between Qebe proper and Engcobo. As a
qualified nurse, Joan helped out at the nearby hospital located at the All
Saints Anglican Mission.
The 199 page book
includes19 color and 22 black photographs. It includes a tribal
map of the of the former Transkei with place names. Mention is made of
the Amaqwathi, Baca, Basuto, Bomvana, Fingo, Gcaleka, Hlangwini, Hlubi,
Pondo, Pondomise, Tembu and the Xesibe.
Joan Broster assembled over
6000 pieces of Thembu beadwork and costume. Many items from her
collection are illustrated in this book, including beaded love letters, chokers and
medicine bottles.
Other books by Joan Broster
include:
Amagqirha -
The
Thembu -
African
Elegance (A shared venture with Alice Mertens) and
Transkei Heritage.
To learn more about the
life and times of Joan Broster, click
here.
Price: $65.00
plus postage.
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