"Building together Church and Society in Kwa Zulu Natal" is a collection of old photographs, hand-made maps, drawings and water colours from the Norwegian Missionary Society’s presence in South Africa from 1844. The collection also illustrates Norway’s role in strengthening democracy and civil society in the fight against apartheid.
South Africa was the first country in which Norwegian missionaries started their activities in church-building, education and health - from Durban east along the coast and inland in an area covering most of Kwa Zulu Natal.
This, together with the arrival of 200 Norwegian settlers near Port Shepstone in the 1880s, marked the beginning of what was to become a substantial relationship between Norway and South Africa.
Subsequent Norwegian support of the liberation struggle has been followed by ongoing support of arts, sports and culture in a partnership for peace and development in the 21st century.
The exhibition focus is on :
- Building a church with democratic structures and training of pastors and other personnel – The first Zulu visited Norway for theological training in 1865, possibly the first known African to visit Norway for further education.
- Education work with primary schools, high schools, teacher training colleges and vocational education to supply teachers for the increasing number of schools built and supported by Norway and the Norwegian mission – until the South African government took over in the 1950’s
- Health work through hospitals and clinics and training of nurses and other health personnel. Several of the hospitals founded in the 19th century are still operating.
- The gradual development of civil society in the area, the plight of workers in the early industrialisation process and the process of democratisation in the fight against apartheid. These images include pictures of Albert Luthuli taken during the short period between his winning of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1961 and the start of his incarceration under house arrest.
The Norwegian Mission’s work with the local population in then Zululand was gradually taken over by local staff. A church was founded based on local values with the work and ethic of Norwegian, Swedish, German and American missions in Kwa Zulu Natal.
Known as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Africa, the church is represented across South Africa and is headed by Bishop Louis Sibiya.
The exhibition opened at the Lutheran Church, #43 Milne St in Durban on 23 April and is presently on display at Umpumulo from where it will travel to Untunjambili, Eshowe, Empangeni, Mahlabathini, Pietermaritzburg and finally the Zululand Historical Museum at Fort Nongqayi, Eshowe, in July where it will remain as part of the permanent display.
Captions and information will be displayed in English and Zulu.
The exhibition has been put together as one of the countrywide events to commemorate Norway 2005, the centenary of the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905 which was launched in Cape Town in February this year by Norway’s Queen Sonja.
South Africa is one of only eleven focus countries worldwide to be honoured by Norway as centennial partners.
In addition to the exhibition of some 70 images, a selection of 2000 photographs has been collated and made available on CD for interested institutions and collectors.
The project has been co-ordinated by the Centre for Intercultural Communication (SIK), connected to the School of Mission and Theology (MHS), both in Stavanger, Norway under the guidance of SIK Director Kåre Kristensen and MHS Archivist Nils Kristian Høimyr, with the Reverend Themba Khati in Kwa Zulu Natal. Funding for the project was supplied by Norwegian Agency of Development Co-operation (NORAD) and the Norwegian Embassy in South Africa.
OPENING VENUE CLOSING (last day)
Sat 23 April Lutheran Church Thurs 28 April
43 Milne St, DURBAN
Contact : (031) 337-8411 or Pastor Nzama 083 334 8588
Mon 2 May Lutheran Mission/Diocesan Centre Sun 15 May
(2 weeks) UMPHUMULO
Contact : Executive Secretary Rev Khati
032 – 481-7785 or 032 – 481-7796
Mon 16 May Ntunjambili Church Sun 29 May
(2 weeks) UNTUNJAMBILI
Contact : Rev Ngcobo
Mon 30 May Maqhamusela Centre Sun 5 June
(1 week) ESHOWE
Contact : Dean T Z Myeni 072 691-2307
Mon 6 June venue t.b.a. Sun 12 June
(1 week) EMPANGENI
Contact : Acting Dean C S Ngcobo 083 341 6732
Mon 13 June Mahlabathini Church Sun 19 June
(1 week) MAHLABATHINI
Contact : Dean Gwamanda 083 466 3942
Mon 20 June Lutheran Theological Institute Sun 27 June
(1 week) PIETERMARITZBURG - 29 Golf Rd, Scottsville
Contact : Rev George Scriver 033 – 260-6067
Thereafter on permanent display at ESHOWE MUSEUM
Contact : Jenny Hawk