Commercial Road shares its name with streets all over the English-speaking world. The first Commercial Road was probably in London, where it was built by the Commercial Road Company. Similarly named Roads are generally named for the economic activity to which they played host when they were built. Today Commercial Road is mostly home to … Read more
Tomorrow marks the 140th anniversary of the Battle of Isandlwana, which saw the Zulu armies, led by King Cetshwayo kaMpande, defeat the British army on the 22nd January 1879. The battle, which lasted four hours and is considered by many to be the most glorious moment in Zulu kingdom’s military history. If you happen to find yourself in Gauteng … Read more
King Cetshwayo kaMpande, after whom Jan Smuts Highway in Durban is now named, is considered to be the last king of an independent Zulu kingdom. Apparently standing at nearly two metres tall, and weighing in excess of 150kgs, Cetshwayo showed his might by first taking control of his father’s kingdom while King Mpande was still alive, and then going … Read more
The Ulwazi Programme is a project of the Local History Museums, which has under its wing all of the Municipal run libraries and heritage centres, such as the beautifully curated KwaMuhle Museum and the fascinating Old Court House, but there are a number of smaller, independently run museums in KwaZulu-Natal that are also worth a visit. One … Read more
Last Friday saw the unveiling of a statue of 19th century Zulu king, Cetshwayo ka Mpande. The statue of King Cetshwayo stands proudly alongside those of the amaHlubi king, Langalibalele, Bapedi king, Sekhukhune, and the Khoisan freedom fighter, Doman. All four statues were unveiled as part of the 350-year commemoration of the Castle of Good Hope, which played … Read more