International Museums Day has stirred excitement as MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba handed the KwaDukuza Museum over to the KwaDukuza community. Speaking at the handover ceremony held at Stanger High, Mahlaba said the observation of this Day is “exactly for honouring those who were previously disadvantaged in terms of access and telling their stories in museums”. This year International Museums Day is celebrated under the theme Museums for Education and Research.
The newly built KwaDukuza Museum, sits on the site of the old museum which held a trove of information collected in its 47 years of operation. It is located in the town steeped in the history of the Zulu and Indian people and is pitched as a conduit for addressing key social issues, transforming how we see the future, improving tourism and preserving cultural legacy in the historically rich area.
The partnership between KwaDukuza Municipality and the Department led to the realisation of this multi-million rand museum. Architecturally, the building takes a strong cue from the cultural tones of the local people. A striking tower with “isicholo” a traditional Zulu hat worn by women headlines the outside of the new structure found opposite the King Shaka Visitor Centre. Inside, the museum follows the cue of balancing the content to reflect on the heritage of the people of KwaDukuza and neighbouring towns. The inaugural exhibitions mark the 30Years of Democracy and reflect on the road to freedom South Africa has taken. Showcased are the Struggle t-shirts exhibition which is collection of protest and political parties t-shirt dating back to the 80s, Albertina Sisulu and Mandela Exhibition, Charlotte Maxeke Exhibition and Ilembe the Enigmatic Builder Exhibition. The museum also commemorates local history, with exhibits that include Early Settlers, Zulu Heritage, Prominent People of the town including Chief Albert Luthuli, the history and development of the sugarcane and paper industries, and Local Traditional Authorities, all of which are closely linked to the town. These new displays will give visitors a deeper understanding of the cultural relevance of KwaDukuza.
Mrs Veli Luthuli from the Luthuli Foundation welcomed the handover as a great step to the contextualizing of heritage. Referring to the partnership and convergence of memory enjoyed by the sister museums JL Dube Museum and the Gandhi Museum, she said KwaDukuza Museum joins these sister museums in spearing ahead with deepening work done to collect heritage housed in these South African struggle history rich regions.
“The importance of museums is in assisting us to know our past understanding your present and mapping your future. It is nice to have such an institution as it will assist us to contextualize our heritage and culture”.
KwaDukuza mayor Cllr Lindile Nhaca applauded the handover and remarked on how it coincides with the reopening of the investigation into the “mysterious” death of Chief Albert Luthuli which took place 57 years ago “57 years on, the apartheid forces have not found moral high ground and goodness to disclose the circumstances surrounding his death. Earlier this week, we received news that an inquest into his mysterious death will be re-opened – through the Judge President of the High Court of South Africa.”
“We take pride in expanding the heritage of our forebears who envisioned a democratic South Africa and a better future for all” said Nhaca. She added that it is important for us to all to “use this occasion to pay tribute to our forebears who laid down their lives for the project of building non-racial, non-sexist, and united South Africa”.
