ONE of Durban’s most unique cultural beacons, the Phansi Museum is the perfect place to visit this Africa Day! The day is observed annually to commemorate the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the precursor to the African Union (AU), which was created on May 25, 1963.
Africa Day has become a day of celebration for Africans and people of African descent all over the world and has even morphed into Africa Month which is celebrated throughout the month of May. Celebrate African unity, culture, and diversity by visiting the Phansi Museum this May.
The Phansi Museum is located in the picturesque neighbourhood of Glenwood. The African history house stores some of the largest collections of traditional arts, crafts, and artefacts across the country. Nestled in a green oasis of indigenous trees, in what was formerly the Roberts’ family home, the Phansi Museum is a rich source of African culture and history, with some artefacts dating back to the beginning of colonialism and apartheid.
The museum was declared a national monument in 1980. It was built in 1898 and was home to Esther Roberts, one of South Africa’s first female anthropologists. Esther stood many a day silently outside the city hall with her solidarity group called the Black Sash, lamenting injustices endured by black people during apartheid. She died more than 10 years before South Africa was liberated. The road where the Phansi Museum stands today is named after her.
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Phumzile Nkosi, the curator, and museum manager said Roberts was an activist and an art collector. “She was a freedom fighter, serving for the Black Sash, and she also collected African artefacts before she died. She knew the importance of our history and was dedicated to making sure it wasn’t lost. That is the purpose of this museum, to preserve our history and pass it on,” said Nkosi.
In IsiZulu, ‘phansi’ means below or beneath, and it is a reference to the basement location where Phansi Museum began.
Nkosi has been working at the Phansi Museum since 1996 and is a wealth of information on African history and artefacts, as she is also the lead tour guide for the museum. According to Nkosi, the museum has some antiques which are more than 150 years old. “The museum began in the basement of this house, and that is where we keep our oldest pieces. We have beads in the basement from 1860!”
The museum manager said the art pieces come from all over Africa. “Half of the pieces at the museum were collected from the Roberts’ family, and friends of the Roberts’ family and the other half has been collected through donations or from local art sellers, whom we also seek out.”
“Some sellers are proud that their items will be displayed and curated in a museum. Others have changed their lives and have no more need for them. The focus of the collection is on the life of the ordinary residents of our region, what they make, why and how to use the materials, and skills and influences available and prevalent at the time,” said Nkosi.
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Most of the artworks are simple objects made by rural people for use in their everyday life – a life that is deeply influenced by local traditions. Life-size dolls, showing ceremonial wear from different regions and cultures of South Africa, are on display, as are examples of beadwork dating back to the 19th century. Headrests, meat platters, carved spoons, and Zulu pots are also displayed.
The museum offers guided tours led by guides who are familiar with many of the traditions and objects on display, and who are also part of the creative world that is forever producing more and more amazing things. For those interested in visiting the areas and meeting some of the people who initiated the collection, reach out to the Phansi Museum to arrange a tour. According to Nkosi, self-guided tours will soon be possible via a downloadable PDF.
If you want to take a step back in time, visit the Phansi Museum located at 500 Esther Roberts Road.
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