Umlando Wethu – Our History, Sites and Stories through Time Travel and Applied Heritage  is a book launched by our Association on 20 September 2025. It captures the voices, memories, and experiences of communities whose histories were never formally recorded.

The major themes explored in the book include:

• Forced Removals and the Establishment of KwaGamalakhe ,  featuring powerful personal testimonies.
• Indentured Indian Workers in Port Shepstone – tracing and documenting the lives of early Indian labourers. To support this ongoing work, we have established a Helpdesk for those wishing to research their ancestry. To date, we have traced and recorded 3,307 Indian indentured workers in the Port Shepstone area.
• The Impact of Christian Mission Stations – highlighting the development of schools during the colonial period for various racial groups.
• The Footprint of King Shaka on the South Coast – exploring early Zulu influence and movements in the region.
• The Poll Tax and the Bhambatha Uprising on the South Coast, examining how these events shaped local resistance and led to the establishment of the Ntelezi Msani Heritage Centre in Umzumbe.

Our research continues as we uncover and preserve the stories that shaped our shared past.

Share Your Story! We invite you to join this journey. Your memories and family histories are valuable. Together, we can restore dignity, voice, and recognition to those whose contributions have long been overlooked. This includes establishing schools, businesses, and institutions, be they religious or others. Share your culture and traditional practices; this too is important.