Greenpop Reforest Fest 2025

Ubuntu stage dedicated to eco-driven art and conversations at the 2025 Reforest Fest sponsored by Hazendal Wine Estate. Photo by Shari Thompson

Hazendal was a proud sponsor of the 2025 Reforest Fest by Greenpop in which the estate sponsored the Hazendal Ubuntu Stage – a gathering space dedicated to conversations, art and music focused on imagining a future inspired by eco-diversity.

Greenpop is a non-profit organisation focused on reforestation, urban greening, and environmental education in sub-Saharan Africa. Their mission is to restore degraded landscapes and reconnect people with nature through active ecological participation. The Reforest Festival is a core part of that mission, an annual event where volunteers gather to plant thousands of trees, attend sustainability workshops, and build community through music and shared work. The 14th edition of the festival took place at the Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat in the Overberg, from 18 to 21 April 2025.

Hazendal’s winemaker Kiara Scott was in dialogue on the Hazendal Ubuntu Stage with Professor Simeon Materechera, an Indigenous Knowledge Systems [IKS] Soil Scientist at the North West University, South Africa.

The talk was dedicated to Hazendal’s commitment to fostering of African IKS within the field of viticulture and wine-making. Professor Materechera defines IKS as ‘bodies of knowledge developed by indigenous communities over generations through direct interaction with their environment’. The North West University Professor explains:

“The wine industry in South Africa has historically been dominated by Western scientific viticulture and winemaking knowledge and practices. However, it is well known that Africa is rich in IKS that have long contributed to agriculture, fermentation, and sustainable land use. These systems embody centuries of ecological wisdom and cultural practices that have the potential to enhance the sustainability, uniqueness, and cultural richness of the wine industry. The extent to which South African winemakers are using IKS against the backdrop of their own experiences and traditional practices is not known. IKS can play several key roles in winemaking by introducing sustainable, culturally enriching, and innovative practices that enhance the quality of the wine while preserving environmental and cultural heritage.”

Hazendal’s wine maker Kiara Scott commented, “Indigenous Knowledge Systems offer vital wisdom for sustainable viticulture… Rooted in deep ecological understanding, practices such as companion planting and natural pest control can enhance soil health and biodiversity. This fusion of tradition and innovation promises resilient vineyards, site-driven wines, and a profound respect for the land’s cultural and ecological heritage.”

In addition to the discussion about African IKS in viticulture, the Hazendal Ubuntu Stage served as a multidisciplinary platform celebrating contemporary African voices aligned with the estate’s ethos of inspiring cultural conversations.

Notable contributors were Zolani Mahola, Cormac Cullinan, and Sibusile Xaba who explored how we can shift paradigms and contribute to the transition from the Anthropocene to the Novacene, where human intelligence collaborates with nature for a better future. The stage served as a space for dialogue and reflection, aligning with the festival’s broader mission of environmental restoration and community engagement.

“As a first-time attendee, I was welcomed into a warm, colourful community of eco-warriors,” commented Kiara Scott. “Reforest Fest wasn’t just an event—it was a joyful, hope-filled movement for a greener future.”

Professor of Soil Science, North West University, South Africa

Professor Simeon Materechera was also a panel speaker at the 2024 Hazendal Festival | Soil Edition. Professor Simeon Materechera is currently based at the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Centre in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences of the North-West University. As a founding Director of the IKS centre at the North-West University, he has been involved in activities related to community engagement and indigenous data sovereignty with different stakeholders both within and outside South Africa. He is currently leading a cohort of postgraduate students conducting research in the areas of indigenous agriculture, phyto-contraception, climate change and food security, scholarship of engagement and indigenous knowledge management systems. He has conducted research and published in the areas of soil science, agronomy, agro forestry, agricultural water management, tillage and indigenous knowledge systems (IKS).

Photos by Shari Thompson