2009/09/10
PROLIFIC author and renowned collector Joan Cremer died on September 6 in Port Alfred, aged 93 .
Cremer, who wrote under the name Joan Broster , was born in Transkei in 1916 and grew up in Engcobo .
She wrote four books on the Xhosa people and the history of Transkei pioneers, missionaries, magistrates and traders, while a fifth, Transkei Heritage, will be published later in the year .
She is perhaps best known for her extensive collections of beadwork and traditional Xhosa dress, a large part of which is housed at the University of Fort Hare in Alice .
The collections have gone a long way to ensuring that a significant part of Xhosa culture including traditions, medicines, customs, dress and lifestyle has not been lost.
Cremer, who attended the Diocesan School for Girls in Grahamstown, went to Rhodes University after matriculating where she achieved a BSc in 1935 and a University Education Diploma in 1938 .
After completing her university studies she joined the war effort and served as a military nurse with the South African Military Nursing Service .
After the war she joined the staff at the University of Fort Hare before settling with her first husband, Broughton Broster, on a small trading station in Transkei where they lived for 16 years .
It was during this time that Cremer started her work documenting the importance of traditional beadwork to the people of the Xhosa nation.
She went on to write Red Blanket Valley, Amagqirha and African Elegance (a shared venture with Alice Mertens) .
Cremer was a recognised authority on Tembu beadwork and wrote a book titled The Tembu: Their Beadwork, Songs & Dances.
Cremer later moved to Gonubie where she met and married her second husband, Laurie Cremer. The couple retired to Port Alfred in 1996 and moved into Settlers Park Retirement Village.
Cremer’s brother, Jim Clarke , said a fifth book written by Cremer would be published posthumously.
“It’s called Transkei Heritage and will be published sometime in the near future.” - By ANDREW STONE
Senior Reporter
|