Amazwi South African Museum of Literature

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Amazwi South African Museum of Literature in the Eastern Cape is a treasure trove of South African literary history and is a must-visit for anyone interested in exploring the country’s rich literary heritage. The museum was founded with a small collection of South African manuscripts by the late Professor Guy Butler of Rhodes University in the 1960s. The museum has since grown to become a Declared Cultural Institution, funded by the then Department of Education, and was officially renamed Amazwi South African Museum of Literature by the Minister of Arts and Culture in March 2019. The museum now has a mandate to collect literary artifacts relating to the literatures of all South African languages.

About the Museum

The museum is located in Grahamstown, which is known for its rich cultural history and heritage. The museum is situated in a custom-designed building that has a 5-star rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa, the first museum in the country to achieve this.

The permanent exhibitions in the museum depict the literary representation of the South African landscape from early colonial times to the present day. Through literary imaginings, the landscape is presented as a physical place with its long history of ownership conflicts, and as an aesthetic symbol of cultural identity.

In addition to the main museum building, the precinct also has two satellite museums: Schreiner House and the Eastern Star.

Schreiner House explores the life and work of Olive Schreiner, who was the renowned author of The Story of an African Farm, and recognises her contribution as a writer, women’s rights activist, and human rights activist. Some of her belongings and part of her and her husband’s personal libraries are on display. The house was donated to Amazwi and opened to the public in 1986. It was declared a National Monument in 1988.
The Eastern Star houses exhibits of 19^th century printing equipment, including a 120-year-old Wharfdale printing press, and an exhibition that examines the history of the press in South Africa. The building, its restoration, and collections were donated to Amazwi by the then owners of The Star, The Argus Group.

Interesting Facts

The Thomas Pringle Collection for English in Africa was founded in 1972, which became the National Documentation Centre for English in 1974.
The museum still maintains close links to Rhodes University.
Schreiner House was once Olive Schreiner’s home, where she lived with her siblings Theo, Ettie and Will from 1867 to 1870. The house was restored to look like it did at the time when the Schreiners lived there.
The Eastern Star gets its name from a newspaper that was established in Grahamstown in 1871. The newspaper and its proprietors followed the gold rush to Johannesburg in 1887 and the paper was renamed The Star.

Photo Gallery

Physical Location

Tourist Experiences

Make a trip of it and visit some of the other recommended museums, tourist attractions and experiences in the area.

Conclusion

The Amazwi South African Museum of Literature is a fascinating destination for anyone interested in South African literary history and heritage. With its main museum building and two satellite museums, visitors can explore the country's literary history from early colonial times to the present day. From Olive Schreiner's home to the history of printing in South Africa, there is something for everyone at the Amazwi South African Museum of Literature.