Doman – Leader of the 1st KhoiKhoi/Dutch War

• Bronze
• 1.7m high
• 2013

The sculpture is part of the Long Walk to Freedom parade of over 100 bronze sculptures. Commissioned by The National Heritage Project View-able by public at Century City, Cape TownWatch: A short YouTube video showing the sculptures in Century City, Cape Town.

This bronze sculpture is of Doman, who was one of Jan van Riebeecks interpreters in the 1650’s. He was sent to Jakarta to learn the language and culture of the Dutch. While there he observed the colonization of Jataka by the Dutch and realised that they would do the same to the Cape and his people. He rallied his people when he returned he started the first KhoiKhoi/Dutch war.

This was a challenging sculpture to create as there were no direct reference or pictures of Doman, only images from drawings and written descriptions from the period. The KhoiKhoi were the local tribe in the Capetown area when Jan van Riebeeck arrived. They were farmers and would wear sheepskin for warmth. They also traded for metal with tribes further north and any passing ships and would decorate their heads with copper disks. They would carry their tobacco and pipe, and a short stick with a jackals tail to flick away flies.

The National Heritage Project: This sculpture was commissioned by the National Heritage Project. It will be one of 400 proposed figures to be created by South African artists. They represent our country’s history, of the struggle for freedom and human rights, and all the major characters who contributed to South Africa today. Currently about 56 have been completed and are placed at a site in Pretoria, to be opened to to the public soon. The whole project will take an estimated 5 years to complete.

This is the vision of Dali Tambo. A sustainable historical tourist attraction, where visitors can wander around the life-size figures who had a part to play in South African history and the struggle for human rights. Information will accompany each bronze sculpture making it both a visually interesting venue as well as educational for all visitors – local and international.