O.J.O. Ferreira

Ockert Jacobus Olivier Ferreira (*1940), a retired and now honorary professor in the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies at the University of Pretoria, is the author/editor of 32 books and 99 articles, of which 22 and 40 respectively deal with the relationship between Portugal and South Africa. In this connection he has visited Portugal no less than 22 times. Editorial work includes editorship of the “S.A. Journal of Cultural History” (1983-1988 & 1996-1997) and “Historia” (1990-1993). He received from the University of South Africa (UNISA) a D.Litt. et Phil. (History); and from the University of Pretoria a D.Phil (Cultural History). Cobus Ferreira served as an executive member of the Historical Association of S.A. (1990-1994); secretary of the S.A. Historical Society (1995-1997); chairman of the S.A. Society for Cultural History (1988-1990); member of the Boards of Control of the National Cultural History Museum, Pretoria (1988-1996); the S.A. Council of Heraldry (1989-1997); and is a member of the Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa in Portugal (since 2010). He was awarded the Prestige Prize for the Advancement of History by the Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge (1994); and three medals of honour for his contribution to Cultural History from the S.A. Academy for Science and Art (1994), the Genootskap vir Afrikaanse Volkskunde (1998) and the S.A. Society for Cultural History (1999). In 2004 he was awarded a second medal of honour by the S.A. Academy for Science and Art for his contribution to the recording of the history of the connection between South Africa and Portugal.