26/10/2026
Swellendam Heritage Association is excited to share our newest publication, Almost Forgotten, with you all! (It is also available in Afrikaans)
To give you a taste of what this special book is about, here is a brief introduction.
Ever since Homo sapiens emerged as the dominant hominid on the planet, we have told stories to each other, around campfires, in our settlements, villages and towns.
Swellendam was no different. These stories, sometimes embellished, were passed on orally from one generation to another. They helped bind us together and develop our culture.
As we entered the digital age, such storytelling began to fade as we spent more time on our digital devices. These old stories collected over the years became Almost Forgotten.
A few individuals, acknowledged in the book, collected some of these stories and published and recorded them. They inspired Swellendam Heritage Association to produce a collection of 50 stories, drawing on the recorded histories of these individuals and other old Swellendammers, before the “Almost…” part vanished too.
The old-fashioned style of the writing has been maintained, lending these stories a distinctive flavour and atmosphere.
The Swellendam Heritage Association believes these stories will make a worthy contribution to the town's cultural heritage and that readers will enjoy them and, once again, pass on this special part of our history.
Derek Weightman
Chairman, Swellendam Heritage Association
