Central and Southern African Tribal Art

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Native Life in Western Pondoland

Mrs. Fred Clarke - neé Ethel Goss 

Mrs. Fred Clarke 'born Ethel Goss' was a trader who lived in Pondoland at Gosshill. Her husband Fred Clarke, was the younger brother of James Bertram Clarke, Joan Broster's father. Regionally she was heralded as the 'white Pondo', as she spent years recording the life and customs of the Pondo peoples. She was also a dear friend of Barbara Tyrrell.

Ethel mastered the art of developing film she had taken with her Brownie camera. She used her skill extensively to record aspects of Pondo life. Nobody had become as close to the Pondo as had she. It was and remains unheard of for a woman to be allowed into the workings of the male Abakwetha circumcision camps.

 NATIVE LIFE :  IN Western Pondoland  BY MRS. FRED CLARKE

As a result of her photography and research, Ethel designed and marketed albums - which she handmade into book form. These were hardbound with covers inscribed : NATIVE LIFE :  IN  Western Pondoland - BY MRS. FRED CLARKE.  Barbara Tyrrell advised that up to 6 albums were produced, which she found on offer at the trading store.

 Killie Campbell - Barbara Tyrrell

During the 1940's, Killie Campbell purchased two of the albums to add to her extensive Africana Library. Killie gave one of the two to her dear artist friend Barbara Tyrrell. At the time, Killie engaged Barbara extensively to draw, paint and record South Africa's tribal people.

Some 60 years later, Barbara Tyrrell offered her album to our library. Inside the front cover is written:

From Killie Campbell in the 1940's - to me - and now to Ken 16.6.02 - Mrs. Fred Clarke and "Gosshill" where I camped many happy times in my first caravan year. - Mrs. Clarke a wonderful 'white' Pondo linguist and friend of the Pondo people.  Barbara Tyrrell

Little doubt, the 'Mrs. Fred Clarke' album is both culturally and historically priceless.

This example has thirty-seven hard board pages interspaced with tissue paper containing 455 photographs. Two data sheets and 5 essays or short stories were inserted. Precious 'otherwise lost' information is handwritten below each photograph, detailing aspects of Pondo life and culture. Topical sections include:

Needless to say, the wealth of information is not only formidable - but priceless.

Above, an example of a photographs caption...

Another

From the web a second - far smaller album came to rest in our library, sold by a vendor in the USA. It has a wooden face and as with the larger album, pages have been interspaced with tissue paper. The inside cover confirms the photographs are copyright to Mrs. Fred Clarke of 'Thatchings - PB Umtata'.

Inside, as one would write onto a postcard, is written;  12-11-41  To Dear Mrs. Murphy, These pictures were all taken in the Transkei. With love from Isa. Thus far, we have yet to ascertain who Mrs. Murphy or Isa may have been.

Approximately half of the photographs contained in the smaller album are of scenery, the remainder of native life. Above are examples found therein. 

Barbara Tyrrell's Caravan - Pondoland - Circa 1940

Barbara Tyrrell's friendship and camping spot at Gosshill captivated the attention of the Pondos. She and Ethel Clarke shared a common admiration for the tribal peoples of Southern Africa. They dedicated their lives recording the making and meanings associated to Southern African material culture. Three cheers to Mrs. Fred Clarke - Barbara Tyrrell and Killie Campbell, all likeminded friends who led fascinating lives that overwhelmed with achievement!

To learn more of Barbara Tyrrell and her adventures with Nixie, click here.

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