Johannesburg — South Africa boasts another museum that showcases the origins of mankind.

President Thabo Mbeki last night officially opened the Origins Centre exhibition dedicated to explore and celebrate the history of modern humankind through ancient human image making.

Mr Mbeki said the opening of the centre was timely following the recent inauguration of the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) and the Cradle of Humankind Maropeng Visitor's Centre.

"These are very important Centres because they practically help to link the evolution of humans to the creative genius of our ancestors as represented by this centre and to the origins of our universe as seen from the glittering array of mirrors of SALT," said Mr. Mbeki.

Mr Mbeki said through these centers, South Africa had an opportunity to reflect on its past, to celebrate the diversity of the present and to look forward to the future discoveries of other wonders.

He said the Centre exhibition was part of the "repository of the measureless and immeasurable".

He added that it was a tribute to the archaeologists, representatives of indigenous communities, architects, landscape gardeners, filmmakers, designers, conservationists, educators and renowned artists.

"Our aim of the Origins Centre is surely one of shifting our consciousness and perspective on the customs and traditions of our ancestors. We have to change perceptions about our traditions, which suffered as our people were conquered and the hunter-gatherers became the hunted, and the potters and ironsmiths became the labourers and mineworkers," he said.

Mr Mbeki said the country was moving forward into an era during which the interwoven, seamless histories of its peoples would be paramount in the formation of the country's identity.

The Origins Centre offers visitors an emotional experience, taking them on an individual journey of discovery that ends at the very beginning: the origin of modern human beings, and thus the true starting point of species in Africa.

Housed in two adjacent buildings at the Wits University's Braamfontein campus, the centre will ultimately comprise two museums.