Historians raise concerns over location of heritage village at Isandlwana

History will be kept alive forever with last week’s announcement that a R12,5-million heritage village is to be built at Isandlwana. The first sod was officially turned by King Goodwill Zwelithini, who has pioneered the development at the world-famous site of the 1879 battle, has long held a dream to develop Isandlwana.

He said that the Sandlwana Heritage Precinct Development has been in the planning phases since 1999 and was ‘born out of a strong desire to remember, capture, re-affirm and celebrate African history.’

Gugu Ngcobo, of KwaCulture, also commended this development and stated, “although the days of the struggle wars may appear to be over, the African spiritual heritage is everlasting. N.L.B. funding of this project has helped the Zulu descendants of King Cetshwayo’s regiments who lost their lives on that battlefield, to preserve this particular chapter in African history”.

The National Lotteries Board explained that this project comes as part of the celebration of 20 years of democracy and has made this particular development one of its legacy projects.

However, historians have raised concerns that the location of the village may impact on the battle site itself and be detrimental to tourism. Johann Hamman, a Dundee tour guide, said that already ‘a now derelict village, built by Kwa-Culture, but never used, was already impacting on the site.

“It is a pity that historians are not consulted before this projects go ahead.
“It is important that all stakeholders be in agreement for the sake of the development of the area.”

Ian Knight, world-renowned Anglo Zulu war author, historian and a regular visitor to the Dundee area told the Courier that ‘the village is near where the KwaCulture traditional huts are, outside the fence.
“I am disturbed by that as it is right in the middle of the battlefield – right between the lines at the height of the battle.”