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KwaDukuza Museum
Formerly known as the Natal North Coast Museum (opposite
the Shaka Visitor’s Centre), this museum focuses on Zulu
culture, the sugar cane industry and early settler history in
the region. It provides a celebration of the cultural fusion
within the region, with a collection of artefacts that offer
insight into the Zulu empire and its workings. It also gives a
comprehensive overview of the early days of Stanger (now
KwaDukuza) and its subsequent development. The museum
is open from Monday to Friday 8am to 4.30pm and is closed
over weekends. Entrance is free. Tel: 060 795 3807.
Chief Albert Luthuli
Chief Albert John Mvumbi Luthuli, Nobel Peace laureate
(the first African to receive it in 1961), liberation struggle
icon, lay preacher, teacher and politician, was born near
Bulawayo in Zimbabwe, and brought up in his mother’s
ancestral home in Groutville near KwaDukuza. He became
chief of the AmaKholwa in 1936 but was removed from his
office by the apartheid government in 1952. He was elected
President-General of the ANC in 1952 and worked tirelessly
for liberation, non-violence, non-racialism, democracy and
human rights. In 1956, Chief Luthuli – along with 145 other
leaders – was arrested on a charge of high treason. He was
released in the early stages of the trial and was re-elected
as President General in 1955 and then again in 1958. He
was repeatedly banned and arrested until his death at the
age of 69 in 1967, reportedly by a train near his home. The
Chief Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC)
and the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban are
named after him.
Luthuli Museum
This museum forms part of the National Liberation
Route. It is located in the small mission station town of
Groutville, named after missionary Aldin Grout, and is the
original home of Chief Albert Luthuli. Take a tour of the
house, named after his wife, and built in 1927, and listen
to his 1961 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, or view
a documentary of his life, walk through the garden where
he spoke with the late US Senator Robert Kennedy in 1966
and met with top ANC leaders like Nelson Mandela, and
tour temporary exhibitions. Some 37 000 visitors – school
children, dignitaries, tourists and community members
– visit every year, among the most famous being Nelson
Mandela, the late motivational speaker Dr Miles Monroe,
President Jacob Zuma and musician Yvonne Chaka Chaka.
Entrance is free and every visitor is given a guided tour and
educational tours are extended to student groups. Hours are
8.30am to 4pm Monday to Saturdays, 11am to 3pm on Sundays
and public holidays. Call 032 559 6822 for more details.
TOURISM KWAZULU-NATAL
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KwaDukuza Visitor’s Guide 2017/2018
luthuli museum
Music at the museum
The Museum brings live performances featuring different
genres of jazz as well as different artists to KwaDukuza –
the likes of Mbuso Khoza, Heels Over Head, Zoe The Seed,
Nduduzo Makhathini and many others. The concerts are
supported by Concert SA and iSupport Music Business. They
are in two parts – the day and the evening sessions. The
day session is educational and is attended by learners from
schools in KwaDukuza; the evening session is for the general
public. Concerts take place once a month on a Friday. Like
the museum’s Facebook page for all the updates.
Kennedy family’s visit to the museum
Kerry Kennedy (right)‚ the daughter of assassinated US
Senator Robert F. Kennedy‚ commemorated 50 years since
her father’s historic visit to Chief Albert Luthuli in June 1966
by visiting the Luthuli Museum. Dignitaries at the event
included Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa‚ Inkatha
Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi and US
ambassador to South Africa‚ Patrick Gaspard. Two statues of
the historic meeting are planned for erection in Groutville in
time for the anniversary in 2017.