Albert Luthuli's life is honoured
August 23, 2004 Edition 1
Sipho Khumalo
The life and role of Albert Luthuli in bringing about democracy in South Africa was finally recognised at the weekend with the unveiling of a museum named after him, a literacy project and his statue in his home town of KwaDakuza (Stanger).
The moving commemorative ceremony to honour Luthuli, the first African to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, was attended by high-profile political figures, including President Thabo Mbeki and King Goodwill Zwelithini, KwaZulu-Natal Premier S'bu Ndebele and the chairman of KwaZulu-Natal House of Traditional Leaders, Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
The colourful, day-long commemoration involved a wreath-laying ceremony at the Groutville United Congressional Church where Luthuli is buried, the official opening of the Luthuli museum which is basically his house which has been restored and declared a cultural institution by the Department of Arts and Culture, the unveiling of his towering statue and a rally at the KwaDukuza showgrounds which was addressed by Mbeki.
Luthuli, an educator, farmer, businessman and a traditional leader of note, was the last ANC leader before the organisation was banned.
The commemoration was one of nine pilot national legacy projects established to acknowledge the role of South Africans whose heritage was marginalised under apartheid rule.
Addressing the rally, Mbeki noted that Africans were faced with the challenge of defining and affirming themselves. "It is a challenge that confronts all Africans everywhere - on our continent and in the diaspora - to define ourselves, not in the image of others or according to the dictates and fancies of people other than ourselves," he said.
