Abstract Compared to other continents, the study of indigenous (non-western) knowledge of palaeontology in Africa is a relatively new field. The literature reviewed here nevertheless suggests a long-lasting string of traditions, geomyths and folklore related to fossilized items on the whole continent and encompassing many African cultures. It is often difficult to estimate the antiquity of these traditions, but the evidence gathered here suggests that they range from the 1800s to pre-colonial times, and up to many millennia. Palaeontological items were collected and used for a variety of reasons, but the African record seems unusual for its scarce use of fossils for traditional medicine. Also, despite substantial efforts, some famous localities with conspicuous fossils still remain without any documented indigenous knowledge. We stress that documenting fossil-related folklore and geomyths is not only a matter of preserving this knowledge or promoting diversity, but is also crucial for establishing strong bonds with local stakeholders to encourage preservation of geoheritage and discover new sites.

Abstract The Sea Point intrusive contact on the Atlantic coast, South Africa, is a site of historical significance that continues to be useful for studying the details of granite–wall rock relationships, some of which have not been properly evaluated yet. At a time when the origin of granites was still controversial, and the concept of contact metamorphism not yet properly developed, Charles Darwin visited the Sea Point contact to make some geologically important observations. He concluded that the granite originated as a magma deep in the Earth, intruded a country rock of sedimentary origin and changed this country rock's appearance owing to the thermal action of the hot granite magma. He also contemplated the long periods of time required to expose the rocks by erosion. Besides its historic value, the Sea Point heritage site exposes unique features giving rare insights into the physical and chemical interaction between intruding granitic magma and a regionally low-grade metamorphosed sedimentary sequence. Questions regarding mechanisms of magmatic emplacement may be answered from this outcrop, including emplacement dynamics and interrelationships of various granitic phases, pre- versus syn-intrusive deformation and metamorphism, assimilation of country rock by a granitic magma and the origin of feldspar phenocrysts seemingly ‘stranded’ in the country rock.