Heritage Month: The untold stories of Indentured labourers

RAKESH RAMDHIN

THIS Heritage Month, step inside Durban’s 1860 Heritage Centre where the powerful legacy of South Africa’s indentured labourers comes alive through vibrant cultural exhibitions, authentic cuisine, and poignant personal narratives that shaped the nation’s diverse identity.

Discover the untold stories of resilience and cultural contribution that continue to influence South African society today.For the communities of Chatsworth and Phoenix, Heritage Month carries a profound meaning: it marks the journey of their forebears who arrived as indentured labourers 165 years ago.

The 1860 Heritage Centre in Derby Street, Greyville, Durban, stands as both a custodian and a storyteller of this legacy. For curator Selvan Naidoo, the centre’s story is personal.

In the archives of KwaZulu-Natal, he discovered a document listing his ancestor, Camachee Camachee, who journeyed as a single mother with her children to South Africa in 1864.

One of those children would become his great-great-grandfather.

“Tracing my roots to Camachee’s journey foregrounds the responsibility of telling her story and that of her fellow 152 183 passengers,” Naidoo said.

“Our duty is to write about the everyday lives of the people, how they lived, what they thought, and what they achieved in building our communities.

”Inside the centre, exhibitions like Indenture to Democracy and a replica of Nelson Mandela’s prison cell remind visitors that indenture is not a side note but an integral part of South Africa’s broader freedom struggle.“

The story of indenture is a proudly South African story.Like slavery and the freedom struggle, it involved diverse peoples whose history must be championed so that we see ourselves on the pages of history, not on the margins,” Naidoo added.

This month, the Heritage Food Festival added to the celebration. Food, after all, was memory made edible, Naidoo said.

“Traditional heritage meals bring people together in remembering and keeping alive the memory of our ancestry. Can you imagine a South Africa without bunny chow, koesisters, mielie meal or chakalaka?” he asked.

The festival is a reminder that while indentured labourers endured hardship, they also gifted South Africa with flavours and traditions that unite rather than divide.

The Heritage Food Festival will take place on September 6, at the 1860 Heritage Centre. The day will include guided tours of the centre (10am – 11.30am), followed by a heritage lunch which will be on sale (11am – 3.30pm).

The live food demonstrations will start at noon.Visitors can also enjoy the soulful sounds of Risa Reanne Moodley live on stage (1.30pm – 2.30pm), while raffle draws and a live radio broadcast will add to the festivities.

The festival is more than just a feast for the senses – it’s a fundraiser to support the centre’s mission of preserving and telling the story of indenture. Even those unable to attend are encouraged to contribute by purchasing a raffle ticket or making a donation towards their work.

For younger generations, the centre not only offers a window into the past but also a mirror for identity. Naidoo recalled moments when descendants of leaders like Dorothy Nyembe and RD Naidu saw tributes to their grandparents displayed on the museum walls.

“The 1860 Heritage Centre is a people’s museum telling a people’s story that must inspire our younger generation to lead a life with meaning and purpose.

“They must draw on the resilience of indentured workers; the courage of women during the struggle, and the cultural pursuits of those whose life’s work is proudly displayed here,” he said.

Naidoo stressed that the history of indenture must not be reduced to a commoditised commemoration. Instead, it should be told with dignity, through stories of agency and resilience, he said.That ethos is embodied in the centre’s book, The Indian Africans.

“No longer are indentured workers seen as an anonymous mass. We are now the lions: equipped to tell our story ourselves,” he added.

Looking ahead, the centre plans to take exhibitions into communities across the country, ensuring that more stories – of slavery, indenture, freedom struggles, and cultural achievements – are unearthed and celebrated.

This Heritage Month, as Chatsworth and Phoenix families cook traditional meals, share stories, and honour ancestors, the 1860 Heritage Centre reminds us that the everyday workers who tilled the soil, laid the railways, and built communities deserve their place at the heart of South African history.

And as we reflect on this 165-year journey, we also pause to honour the late Jaisingh Singh, chairman of the 1860 Indentured Labourers Foundation Verulam.

His lifelong mission to preserve and propagate the history of indenture remains a beacon.

“Mikka nandri, Uncle Jay –thank you for ensuring our story will never be forgotten,” said Naidoo.

For updates and more information, visit the 1860 Heritage Centre’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. 

POST PLUS https://thepost.co.za/