Page 9 - KZN Business Sense 5.3

INANDA VALLEY, A

PLACE OF INFLUENCE

f you are looking to catch Dube is highly regarded as an building which published
up with the cultural legacies educationist, journalist, and as ‘Opinion’. building is now the
Ithat contribute to the story a political leader. He was the tourism office for the Phoenix
of KwaZulu-Natal, then a trip to first president of the African settlement.
the Inanda Valley is a must. The National Congress and founder
Inanda Heritage Route serves of the Ohlange Institute. The house named Sarvodaya
as an inspiration to the people (Well Being for All) was
that visit as well as pays tribute One of the most prominent originally build for Gandhi and
to those who have made their writers of his time, Dube was his family in 1904. The current
mark on this area. also the founder of the Zulu/ building is a reconstruction of
English newspaper Ilanga lase the original house, which was
The Inanda Valley has been Natal (Sun of Natal) in 1903, burnt down during the 1985
home to Isaiah Shembe, founder which is still published today. Inanda Riots and now dedicated
of the Church of Nazareth, It was through this paper that as a monument to peace and
and John Dube, father of the he established his political justice. A slow walk in silence
African National Congress reputation by stressing the need through Mahatma Gandhi‘s
(ANC). In addition, Mahatma for African unity and African house to read some accounts
Ghandi lived in Inanda during representation and to air more of his life as well as insights
his time in South Africa, from specific grievances. He worked into his personal thoughts is an
the late 1800s until 1914. actively to promote the rights exercise in humility.
of African people both in South
INANDA SEMINARY Africa and abroad by raising SHEMBE
funds, writing and giving talks. SETTLEMENT OF
The Inanda Seminary is one EBUHLENI
of the best known and oldest In honour of the pioneering
schools for African girls in work done by Dube, Nelson In 1910, Isaiah Shembe
South Africa. Daniel and Mandela decided to cast his founded the Nazareth Baptist
Lucy Lindley were sent by the vote at Ohlange High School Church, an African initiated
American Board of Missions to when South Africa had its first church blending Christianity
South Africa in 1835, as one of truly democratic elections in and indigenous Zulu traditions.
six couples sent to start mission 1994. The Shembe Village of Ebuhleni
work in the country. remains one of the most sacred
John Dube’s original house has sites and pilgrimage sites for
They founded a school for been restored as a museum with
nineteen young girls who would his statue (a bronze sculpture the Shembe people. Visits to the
Shembe Settlement are by prior
board at Inanda. Funds for the by Andries Botha) seated on the arrangement and with a guide
school were provided by the veranda. The former chapel is only.
American Missionary Board, now the African Renaissance
Mary Kelly Edwards, the first Centre and houses a tribute ADVENTURE
head teacher was brought from to Nelson Mandela’s voting FURTHER
Ohio and served the school for site which includes his statue
nearly sixty years. (sculptured by Andries Botha) Other stops on the Inanda

OHLANGE and other historical displays. Heritage Route include the
Inanda Adventures’ site on
INSTITUTE Located at the Ohlange Inanda Dam to canoe on the
Institute, the WOWZULU dam, mountain bike or hike
Of significance is that the Marketplace provides an
Lindleys left the mission in opportunity to buy locally along its edges.
the hands of the Reverend made art and craft, and watch Also visit: the Esikhumulweni
James Dube, one of the first storytellers perform (on Co Operative where old Toyota
African ministers ordained request). car seats are turned into
by American missionaries. handbags for export, Caesar
Reverend James Dube is the PHOENIX Mkhize’s house for his unique
father of John Langalibalele SETTLEMENT beaded animals, the Wushwini
Dube who was born on the Art Centre or Mma Mtshali’s.
11 February 1871 and died While John Dube was
on 11 February 1946. John publishing his newspaper so To relax have lunch at the
was one of the other influential ‘shisa nyama’ Sbu’s Tavern, at’
residents in the valley. Under the Moon, the Fashion
Café or picnic at the Molweni
Be the Mahatma Gandhi was Picnic Spot or Mzinyathi Falls.
publishing ‘Opinion’
(originally known as The Mzinyathi Falls is also
change that you ‘Indian Opinion’) home to a community of
in the Phoenix
settlement. This Rastafarians who have built
want to see in newspaper came stone shelters at the base of
the falls. A visit to the “Rasta
into existence in
1903 and continued
the world. publication Caves” is only possible with
the assistance of a guide. 
until 1961. The
building housing For more information
- Mahatma Gandhi the International www.durbanexpereince.co.za or
Printing Press www.durbangreencorridor.co.za

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