About
Rights framework & contributions policy
Nothing royal, sacred or family-owned is copied or published until the rights holder and the cultural permissions are clear.
1. Rights statuses
Every entry should carry one of these statuses.
- Open licence
- May be shown here with credit (e.g. public domain, Creative Commons).
- View at source only
- We link to it; it is not reproduced on INGONYAMA.
- Permission required
- Needs written permission from the rights holder before use.
- Restricted
- Access is limited by the holder or by law.
- Community consent required
- Needs consent from the family or community it belongs to.
- Royal House approval required
- Needs approval from the Royal House before any use.
2. Default status by type of material
PhotographsView at source only, unless an open licence is confirmed
Oral-history recordingsCommunity consent required
Royal names and symbolsRoyal House approval required for any use beyond factual reference
Praise poetry (izibongo)Community consent required; royal izibongo need Royal House approval
Historical mapsOpen licence or view at source only, per holder
Family-submitted documentsCommunity consent required; living people redacted
Sensitive cultural knowledgeRestricted — not published
Recordings of ceremoniesRoyal House approval required
Material from palaces or traditional authoritiesRoyal House approval required
3. Community contributions policy
Submissions move through: received → needs clarification → verified → published or declined.
- Who verifies a submission?
- A named reviewer from the reviewer register. Royal or sensitive material needs a second reviewer.
- Who can be a reviewer?
- Someone with relevant historical, archival, language or community expertise, appointed by the editor and listed in the register.
- How are disputes handled?
- Both versions are recorded with their evidence levels. If unresolved, the item goes to the advisory panel; nothing is deleted silently.
- How are living people protected?
- Details of living people are not published without their consent. ID numbers, addresses and contact details are never published.
- How is consent recorded?
- Every submission includes a consent and rights declaration, stored with the date it was given.
- Can contributors withdraw material?
- Yes. Ask through the contribution form or the contact on the About page and it is removed from public view.
- Oral tradition vs archival evidence?
- Both are shown side by side, each with its own label. Neither automatically overrides the other.
4. Reviewer register
Sindi MabuselaFounder and editor — reviews all submissions until the panel is appointed
Further reviewers will be listed here once appointed. See the proposed panel on the About page.