Origins Centre Museum
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A museum that explores the origins of art and humanity in Africa,
San heritage, and rock art. Africa is where our ancestors evolved.
It’s only fitting then that the bustling metropolis of Johannesburg, South Africa, is home to the Origins Centre. Ceremoniously opened by former president Thabo Mbeki in 2006, the Origins Centre is a world-class museum dedicated to the exploration and celebration of humankind, telling the story of the emergence of human beings and humanity in southern Africa. Conceptualised by a team of academics
11/01/2024
"More than a museum"
It's our first week back and we're already covered in ochre :)
Thanks to the groups who've joined us in the museum this week, with Brian Mogaki, Amanda Esterhuysen and Tammy Hodgskiss Reynard and the whole team!
To book a museum tour, ochre workshop or lecture, please contact [email protected]
09/01/2024
09/01/2024
There is so much to explore and lots to do at Origins, so bring the kids for some hands-on fun.
..Archaeology, Art, Interactive Displays, Augmented Reality and much more...
Contact us on +27117174700; [email protected]
08/01/2024
We are open!!
Monday - Friday 09:00 to 17:00
Saturday and Public Holidays 09:00 to 16:00
For more info or to book a tour contact us on [email protected] or 0117174700.
We look forward to exploring the past with you in 2024!
18/12/2023
Please note we will be closing for the December holiday from 16 Dec, and will re-open on 8 January 2024.
We have had a wonderful and very busy 2023, and the Origins team would like to thank you all for your support this year.
The museum (and the team) are ready for a rest, and for an inspiring and eventful 2024.
14/12/2023
13/12/2023
Humanity’s oldest art is flaking away. Can scientists save it? Ancient humans painted scenes in Indonesian caves more than 45,000 years ago, but their art is disappearing rapidly. Researchers are trying to discover what’s causing the damage and how to stop it — before the murals are gone forever.
13/12/2023
💛 APPRECIATION POST 💛
Thank you to all the people that make Origins work!
2023 has been a busy and hugely successful year.
Staff, guides, volunteers, visitors and supporters..it couldn't happen without you.
Note: Our last day of business for 2023 is Saturday 16 December.
Wits - University of the Witwatersrand
12/12/2023
11/12/2023
There's lots to explore and lots to do at Origins, so bring the kids this week!
11-16 December 09:00 to 16:00
..Archaeology, Art, Interactive Displays, Augmented Reality and much more...
Contact us on +27117174700
04/12/2023
Zimbabwe Rock Art: Hidden Jewel of Southern Africa
This mobile exhibition explores the rock art of the Matopos in Zimbabwe. It highlights some of the main rock art sites, the people who made the art, conservation efforts and research findings of the cross-disciplinary MATOBART project.
The exhibition was developed by the Matobart Project, University of Zimbabwe and University of Toulouse, France.
Come and enjoy this exhibition and interactive exhibits, on at Origins until end Jan 2024.
Shona and Ndebele versions are currently on display in Zimbabwe.
Supported by IFAS Research (French Institute of South Africa)
Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès Wits - University of the Witwatersrand
CNRS
INSTITUT DE FRANCE
04/12/2023
01/12/2023
Inspired by the museum, the Origins shop sells a range of beautiful, locally made art, crafts, gifts, jewelry and books!
They make perfect, unique and locally produced Christmas presents for adults and kids.
We have an excellent book shop with a wide selection of new and rare books focusing on rock art, archaeology, sociology, heritage and the origins of humanity in Africa.
Open during museum business hours:
Monday to Saturday 09h00 to 16h00.
0117174700
Imbali Visual Literacy Project
Stephen Townley Bassett - Artist
Severa Rech Cassarino
29/11/2023
Good morning :)
Please note that on 30 November and 1 December, the Origins Centre's Tapestry Room and Rock Engraving Archive will be closed to the public due to a private event.
28/11/2023
Experience Origins Centre!
Mon-Fri 09h00 to 17h00
Sat and Public Holidays 09h00 to 16h00
Admission: Adults R90; Pensioners and Wits staff R70; Children and students R45. Guided tour R550 (small groups) / R225 (for groups over 10 pax). Pre-booking essential for guided tours - 0117174700; [email protected].
Temporary Exhibitions: R60 or R30 for students, Wits staff, pensioners and children under 12.
We have dedicated parking at Origins for clients on Wits campus (call 0117174700). Please bring your ID to get through Wits Security
You can book your museum visit via webtickets or at the door.
Our bookshop and gift shop is fully stocked with beautiful locally-made crafts and inspiring books.
Enquiries - [email protected]; 011 717 4700
School and group bookings - [email protected]
Events - [email protected] (Origins Centre is fully booked for private functions for 2023)
Exhibitions and lectures - [email protected]
24/11/2023
Good morning :)
Please note that the Origins Centre Museum will be closed to the public due to the event in collaboration with the Wits Choir, the Exhibition-Expedition with The Wits Choir and Origins Centre Museum
Three performances:
24 Nov at 6pm
25 Nov at 2pm
25 Nov at 6pm
*Tickets for 24 and 25 Nov at 6pm are sold out.
23/11/2023
UPDATE: Please note that all tickets are sold out for these events.
The excitement is mounting!!
Last chance to get tickets for this amazing experience: Exhibition-Expedition with The Wits Choir and Origins Centre Museum
Three performances:
24 Nov at 6pm
25 Nov at 2pm
25 Nov at 6pm
20/11/2023
Join neurologist and brain health specialist Dr Kirti Ranchod for the last walkabout for 2023 - Understanding spirit and spirituality.
We will consider the role of certain spiritual practices to support better mental health, exploring the past, present and future.
More info https://www.facebook.com/events/336428505647495/?ref=newsfeed
Tickets on sale on webtickets or at the door (R60/R30) - https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/Performance.aspx...
Enquiries: [email protected]
Memorability
14/11/2023
11/11/2023
The final iteration of ‘Layers: Rock Art Across Space and Time’ is now on at Origins Centre!
Artists featured in this iteration include Coral Bijoux, Dineo Seshee Bopape, Joni Brenner, Jenna Burchell, Alinka Echeverría, Ângela Ferreira, Richard Forbes, Stefanie Koemeda, Cameron Platter, Inga Somdyala, and Diana Vives.
09/11/2023
A special visit to Origins by little kiddies from New Beginnings Foundation.
08/11/2023
Join us for a multi-sensory experience with beautiful singing, a museum exploration, and audio-visual footage!
An Expedition/Exhibition with The Wits Choir and Origins Centre Museum !!
Tickets on webtickets:
Fri, 24 Nov, 18:00 - https://bit.ly/Gala-Day1
Tickets: Sat, 25 Nov, 14:00 - https://bit.ly/Gala-Day2A
Tickets: Sat, 25 Nov, 18:00 - https://bit.ly/Gala-Day2B
07/11/2023
The Origin of the World: creation and transformation in San dress, narrative and rock art
This exhibition is about dress and dress practices of southern African hunter-gatherer groups. We can learn about these practices in many different ways: through the San peoples narratives and stories - we learn about items of dress that make things change, that play a part in creating the world, or transforming people. we can also learn from dress itself, the material culture items and from the beautiful imagery of dress and dressed bodies in the rock art of South Africa that is associated with the San of the past.
With Vibeke Maria Viestad
On until June 2024
Images by Goeun Botha
06/11/2023
‘Layers: Rock Art Across Space and Time’ is now on at Origins Centre!
Pictures work by Inga Somdyala
04/11/2023
Oh yes!!! Super excited about these special performance-tours with The Wits Choir at Origins Centre Museum!!
Join us for a multi-sensory experience with beautiful singing, a special museum exploration and awesome audio-visual footage.
Tickets: Fri, 24 Nov, 18:00 - https://bit.ly/Gala-Day1
Tickets: Sat, 25 Nov, 14:00 - https://bit.ly/Gala-Day2A
Tickets: Sat, 25 Nov, 18:00 - https://bit.ly/Gala-Day2B
Tickets are limited!
An Expedition/Exhibition with Wits Choir and the Wits - University of the Witwatersrand Origins Centre Museum. Join us for a multi-sensory experience with beautiful singing, informative input from the museum guides, and audio-visual footage.
Tickets: Fri, 24 Nov, 18:00 - https://bit.ly/Gala-Day1
Tickets: Sat, 25 Nov, 14:00 - https://bit.ly/Gala-Day2A
Tickets: Sat, 25 Nov, 18:00 - https://bit.ly/Gala-Day2B
04/11/2023
The final iteration of ‘Layers: Rock Art Across Space and Time’ is now on at Origins Centre!
Thanks all who joined us for the opening on Thursday.
Layers is a travelling exhibition, in collaboration with NIROX () and the Embassies of Spain, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, France, Italy, Mexico and Portugal. Supported by the European Union through The European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC), it brings together the work of artists and scholars from Europe, Latin America, and Africa to foreground the impact of a pivotal moment in human history and its ongoing ramifications.
Taking its cue from the understanding, expressed by Beatriz Colomina, that ‘archeology has always been about design’ – a form of ‘reverse engineering’ that highlights ‘the sedimented ways’ in which we reinvent ourselves – this exhibition asks where we would be were it not for those who left their mark on a rock in the Blombos cave some 70,000 years back? Can we think of the handprints left on the walls of the Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc in France as precursors to the thumbprint? How do we think about such symbols in light of our data-driven age? Will future generations be equally baffled by the data storage systems used today – ‘strange aluminium boxes whose contents, owing to rapid advances in platforms and programming languages’ may come to resemble nought but ‘meaningless code’? What will they make of our road signs, logos, branded clothes, and social media accounts?
Artists featured in this iteration include Coral Bijoux (), Dineo Seshee Bopape, Joni Brenner (.brenner), Jenna Burchell (), Alinka Echeverría (), Ângela Ferreira (), Richard Forbes (), Stefanie Koemeda (), Cameron Platter (), Inga Somdyala ( ), and Diana Vives ().
01/11/2023
Some great shots of Skin We Are in.
Taken by Goeun Botha
Kwasha Theatre Company
The Windybrow Arts Centre
ASSITEJ South Africa
Department of Arts and Culture
David Philip Publishers trading as New Africa Books
Wits - University of the Witwatersrand
NIHSS
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Contact the museum
Telephone
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Address
Corner Yale Road & Enoch Sontonga Drive, University Of The Witwatersrand, Braamfontein
Johannesburg
2001
Opening Hours
| Monday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Friday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00 - 16:00 |
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