Kwa Muhle Museum

Introduction

Durban is famous for its beautiful beaches, rich culture and diverse history. Among the many museums in the city, the Kwa Muhle Museum is a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts. Once the headquarters of the City’s infamous Native Administration Department, this building has been transformed into a museum that provides visitors with the opportunity to reflect on the city’s urban growth and the history of its residents from a variety of different viewpoints.

About the Museum

The Kwa Muhle Museum is a double-story Union style building that served as the center of Durban’s harsh system of labor control during the apartheid era. Today, the museum depicts Durban as an African city searching for identity within a new political context.

The exhibits at the Kwa Muhle Museum include photographic prints of township life and an accurate depiction of the histories of black political trade union and cultural organizations and groupings. One major attraction is an exhibition entitled “The Durban System,” which includes well-researched texts, black and white photographs, and a themed environment. Working together, they provide an insight into this particular form of urban control. Included in the system is a municipal monopoly on the production of Zulu beer, the creation of beer halls, and the provision of segregated accommodation.

The Mkhumbane Gallery is also part of the museum and displays photographs taken by SB Bourquin, who served as the Director of the Department of Bantu Administration between 1953 and 1973. The photographs relate to the forced removal of people from Mkhumbane, the Department’s role and function, and the development of various townships. Recently, an exhibition of bottles unearthed during the recent underpinning of the building had been added to the gallery.

The courtyard is another interesting feature of the museum and contains a sculpture by Durban-born artist Ledelle Moe. Called “The Shadows of the Past,” it is made up of three naked figures sitting and looking out onto the courtyard. The sculpture represents migrant workers with the nakedness of the figures representing the lack of protection. The sitting position relates to the idea of waiting.

Interesting Facts

• The Kwa Muhle Museum documents Durban’s urban growth, the interaction, relationships, and confrontations that made up the everyday events of ordinary people.
• The building housing the exhibits was designed to accommodate the movement of large numbers of people, and use has been made of the wide-open spaces for the exhibitions and educational activities.
• The vision of all the exhibits centers on correcting the inaccuracies in the historical record left by Apartheid, to create a heritage and context for our new democracy that is forthright, candid, and honest.
• The displays deal with topics that challenge the onlooker to interpret their convictions and to reassess their understanding of South Africa, past, present, and future.
• Inside the courtyard, there’s also a community mural completed in 1998. The mural describes the African male workers’ experience of the Municipal Native Affairs Department. Depicted in the mural are the Blackjacks in the Municipal Native Affairs Department, migrant workers queuing, the passbook, a medical doctor, a traditional doctor, and the story of dipping.
• There is a muti garden located in the courtyard that is a reference to local indigenous knowledge systems. Examples of native plants such as Agapanthus, Wild Dagga, and Iboza can be found in the garden.

Physical Location

Conclusion

The Kwa Muhle Museum is an essential destination for visitors to Durban. The museum provides a unique insight into the city’s history, culture, and the struggles of its residents. By exploring the various exhibitions and sites within the museum, visitors can gain a better understanding of Durban’s urban growth and the complex history of its people. The Kwamuhle Museum does an excellent job of presenting a balanced and accurate depiction of the city’s past, including the difficult periods of labor control and apartheid. The exhibits encourage visitors to reflect on the past and consider how it has shaped the present, as well as how it may shape the future.