The Durban Metropolitan Area (DMA) has a long
history of human settlement. It is home to three
major cultural groupings - Africans, Europeans
and Indians, each with its own rich heritage and
traditions. People of Dutch, Portuguese and
Chinese descent also reside in the DMA. As such,
the city is a melting-pot of cultural diversity
resulting in a rich cosmopolitan society. These
influences have led to a myriad of different
architectural and artistic styles as well as
cultural and religious diversity including
Christian, Hindu, Islam and African
traditionalist followers.
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The City
Hall
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An Indian Mosque
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John
Dube's House
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The DMA has a wide range
of sites which are recognised as culturally
significant. These include historical sites and
buildings, cultural
collections and religious sites
. In
addition, there are over 50 Declared National Monuments
and Sites.
You can also visit this
site for more information on
local history
Do the recognised sites fully reflect the cultural
diversity of the DMA?
In general, the
recognised sites focus on buildings rather than other culturally significant areas. The greater
preponderance of permanent buildings of
European style has led to a
bias in favour of European culture. In addition,
the majority of recognised historical sites represent colonial
history. Religious sites are more representative
of the different racial groups
with a number of mosques and temples
identified, as well as churches. Only recently are
sites such as that of the Shembe's
Nazareth Baptist Church (a traditional African Church located in
Inanda) being recognised. There has been a focus
on identifying significant sites in the central
areas of Durban. There is now a need to look at
other parts of the metropolitan area.
Are cultural resources adequately
preserved?
Many important cultural
resources are not well recognised or formally
protected. Examples include the Moongalam Temple
in Bellair Road, the Brickfield Road Temple
and the Tinley Manor Temple (all Hindu Temples).
Many sites of cultural and religious significance
were abandoned and lost as communities
were uprooted and resettled in new areas
during the apartheid era. Hindu temples and
places of worship were among the worst affected by
these socio-political upheavals. Other factors
such as expropriation for public works,
destruction by nature and disinterest by owners
have played a major role in the
destruction/demise of cultural buildings and
artifacts.
Financial constraints
hinder the upkeep of cultural resources and community participation
is important in maintaining resources.
Recently, a number of buildings of
historical significance have been bought by private
companies for use as office space. This has become
a common phenomenon in the Glenwood, Berea,
Musgrave and Morningside areas (central urban suburbs).
Most new owners have spent money in
restoring and maintaining the original building and
these private responses have furthered the
preservation of cultural heritage in
the DMA.
Who has access to Durban's cultural
resources ?
Access is defined by the nature of the
cultural resource. Some resources are freely open to the
public while others for example the traditional Zulu
villages near Botha's Hill have an entrance fee.
Buildings which are privately owned may offer restricted
access and permission needs to be gained to explore the
building. Religious sites are more sensitive and although the
public may access them, this may be controlled to ensure that
sacred sites are not damaged or tourism does not conflict with
religious ceremonies.
