Prof Tshilidzi Marwala Honors Grandmother as His First Engineering Teacher
From Clay Pots to AI: A Grandmother’s Lasting Legacy
Pretoria, South Africa – Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, the renowned artificial intelligence expert and UN Under-Secretary-General, recently received an honorary doctoral degree in engineering from the University of Pretoria. In his acceptance speech, he credited his grandmother as his first engineering teacher.
The Unconventional Engineering Lessons
During the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology’s graduation ceremony, Marwala shared how his grandmother, Vho Tshianeo Marwala – a master potter and mat weaver – unknowingly taught him fundamental engineering principles through her craft.
“What fascinated me most was how she gently knocked on her clay pots, listening to the sound that revealed their strength,” Marwala recalled. “This simple act ignited my lifelong passion for problem-solving and innovation.”
While studying at UP, Marwala discovered that his grandmother’s intuitive quality control method was actually a form of vibration excitation and non-destructive testing – concepts he would later study formally under Professor Stefan Heyns.
Beyond Engineering: Life Lessons from a Grandmother
Marwala’s grandmother also served as his first business teacher, running enterprises selling pots, mats, and snuff. When her snuff business became unprofitable, she demonstrated practical lessons about profit and loss by closing it down.
Through her ngano (Venda fairytales), she imparted wisdom about morality, resilience, and leadership – lessons Marwala still applies in his diplomatic and academic work today.
Advice for Graduates in the AI Era
Addressing the new graduates, Marwala emphasized that success rarely follows a straight path. He shared his own unconventional journey from brewing beer to becoming a UN leader, urging students to embrace life’s detours as learning opportunities.
“In this era of artificial intelligence, the ability to learn and relearn is your most valuable currency,” Marwala advised. “Let your life be a journey of learning, discovery, and service.”
A Tribute to Resilience
Marwala dedicated his honorary degree to his grandmother, family, mentors, and the people of South Africa. Professor Wynand Steyn, Dean of UP’s EBIT faculty, praised Marwala’s contributions to engineering and global leadership.
“He took up the challenge of using his engineering and leadership skills to help make South Africa, Africa, and the world at large a better place,” Steyn said.