Colourful tapestry of cultural legacies
We live our heritage every day, but in September, Heritage Month, we have an official day committed to encourage South Africans to celebrate and embrace their culture and the diversity of their beliefs and traditions.
Nelson Mandela Bay boasts plentiful heritage sites, but when you look at the intricate, colourful tapestry of SA, our heritage does not only reside in our historic buildings and sites, or in our bountiful natural heritage, but it also exists within our houses, our stories, our families, the food we cook, the words we speak and the places we visit.
This year, EDTA (the economic development, tourism and agriculture directorate) is working together with the tourism industry to promote this great wealth of natural and cultural heritage offerings and experiences that lives in the hearts of our friendly and diverse community.
The #ShareTheBay was specifically created to encourage our locals to share what they love about the city and this year we want them to share their culture by showcasing their cultural attires, food and other stories on social media, adding another hashtag, #ilovemyculture.
By doing this we showcase to the world what the friendly city can offer from one of its greatest assets – its people. And that is what we love about our city.
Heritage & cultural sites The Donkin Heritage Trail and Route 67 — (Arts Culture Heritage Route)
The 1820 Settler history and architectural buildings of the historical central city can be explored at leisure on a selfguided walking tour. Amble along the 5km Donkin Heritage Trail, which links 51 places of historical interest in the old Hill area (Donkin Heritage Trail booklet sold at NMBT Visitor Information Centre, inside the Lighthouse Cottage on Donkin Reserve. Tel: 041-585-8884.
Or opt for a guided walking tour (about 3 hours) along Route 67 — an Arts Culture Heritage Route depicting 67 public art works symbolising Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of dedication to the freedom of SA. Some of these include: Welcome Carpet (a Quart Carpet with bead artwork which celebrates the diverse cultures of the Eastern Cape); Untitled (an untitled piece with the features and clothing on the female figure standing behind the chair); River Memory (artwork of steel pipes which evokes the streamlet that once trickled down to the sea before it was land-filled, making way for what is now Donkin Street); Windward (sculptural benches which hint at Port Elizabeth’s nautical history while the title refers to the city’s popular name, the “Windy City”); Fish Bird (represents the returning back of the Donkin to take ownership of this transforming site).
Donkin Reserve, Lighthouse and The Great Flag
Belmont Terrace, Central. Donkin Reserve was proclaimed a public open space in perpetuity by Sir Rufane Donkin. It includes a stone pyramid monument, with a touching inscription, erected by Sir Rufane Donkin in memory of his late wife, Elizabeth, after whom the city was named. The Lighthouse, built in 1861, also houses the Visitor Information Centre. Tel: 041585-8884. At a nominal fee, the Lighthouse is opened on request. The Great Flag, which measures 12m x 15m, is the biggest in SA and it flies from the highest flagpole (60m) in the country. Piazza Mosaic is a 40m² mosaic set out between the Pyramid and the Great Flag which celebrates the multicultural heritages, diverse histories and abundant fauna and flora that characterises the city and the province. The Voting Line are life-size lasercut steel figures which are symbolic of the 1994 first free democratic elections.
Fort Frederick
Located on the corner of Belmont Terrace and Fort Street, Central, Fort Frederick, is a stone fort built in 1799 by the British Forces to defend the mouth of the Baakens River. It was named after Frederick, Duke of York, and was built by English troops sent to Algoa Bay to assist the Graaff-Reinet rebels in preventing a possible landing of French soldiers. Yet, ironically, no shot was ever fired in anger from the fort. Free entry.
Van Der Kemps Kloof, Bethelsdorp
Bethelsdorp was established in 1803 by Dr Johannes Theodosius Van Der Kemp. Attractions include the church, first built in 1803 (rebuilt 1903 and 1926), which is located in Church Street, the Market Square with the Mission Bell, erected in 1815; a square stone house, named the David Livingstone Cottage (a guest cottage where Dr David Livingstone is reputed to have stayed); and a row of Almshouses, built in 1822.
Mendi Memorial
The Mendi Memorial, located in Mendi Road, New Brighton, commemorates the lives of the South African black labour contingent that died on the troopship SS Mendi after sinking off the Isle of Wight, near St Catherine’s Point on February 21 1917. It sank after colliding with the SS Darro in heavy fog.
Emlotheni Memorial Park
Emlotheni Memorial Park in Limba Road, New Brighton, was dedicated to the memory of six anti-apartheid activists. Including trade unionist Vuyisile Mini, these were the first men to be executed for an act of defiance against the apartheid forces in 1964. The site on which the memorial rests has been a public square for years, often where defiance rallies took place.
PE Museum at Bayworld
Beach Road, Humewood. The museum blends the cultural and natural history of SA. Explore a variety of displays, from prehistoric dinosaurs to ethnic beadwork and historical treasures. Open Mon-Fri, 9am-4.30pm. Closed weekends & public holidays. Entrance: Adults R40, children R30. Tel: 041-584-0650
No 7 Castle Hill Museum
Built circa 1829, No 7 Castle Hill in Castle Hill Street, Central, is regarded as one of the oldest surviving Settler dwellings in the city. Opened as a museum in 1964, the interior presents a picture of the domestic life enjoyed by an English middle-class family in PE in the mid-19th century. Open Mon-Fri, 10am-1pm & 2-4pm. Closed weekends & public holidays. Entrance: Adults R20, children R10. Tel: 041-582-2515.