The paradox of the trivial pursuit of the lost monarch and the search for the missing relic has come to an end with the establishment of the Princess Zila Lobengula Cultural Village, which is based in Makhanda [Grahamstown]. The Research that has been conducted by the King Lobengula Foundation into discovering the reasons behind the destruction of the Civilization of MThwakazi when the Colonial Armies marched to hang the British flag over at koBulawayo in 1894. Such a shameful demise suffered at the hands of those who felt empowered to subdue those less disposed with military advancement of the Maxim Gun, the same ammo that was used to defeat the Xhosa People in 1819 in South Africa, Fingo Village. A Battle that was led by Makhanda kaNxele who was by legendary tales both a 'prophet' and warrior. The reason for this year's theme "The Impact of Colonialism in our Society Today and the Road to Restoration" is mounted along those lines to restore the Culture of Peace and Unity, a conceptualization founded by King Mzilikazi when he established "The Unity of Nations". A Group of Nation that belonged to different tribes and kingdoms who came together and formulated the "MTHWAKAZI NATION". The Author of the Birth of MThwakazi who is also my uncle, Prof. M.J.Matshazi has a brief narrative of how the nation was born from the hands of the Zulu Warrior. Official Trade Routes were restructured and brief successful economic balance and social security was maintained until the arrival of Treasure Hunters who were geared to ransack the land until they found what they were looking for, some say the stories of Solomon's mine was actually the beginning of the discovery of the immense Mineral Resources that were found in Zimbabwe [Rhodesia].
The question arises now as to why the monarch was taken almost 2000km away and established in the Eastern Cape, the Frontier Region and never to be allowed to return home. The BSAC made sure that the Lobengula descendants in the Eastern Cape are forgotten and never remembered, and left hidden at the V & A Museum Archives and at Oxford in London awaiting to be awaken, some say 'never wake up the sleeping dogs' maybe now in our history the truth has to come out and be told to the world, as these are kind of records that belong to World Heritage.
The Princess Zila Lobengula Cultural Village and Museum are still undergoing some major Landscaping and Building Developments to accommodate a Performance Stage; an African Restaurant to offer mostly local foods but with a mixture of different cultural dishes. The Accommodation Facilities would follow suite but some of our Visitors we try to accommodate them to some of the nearby Hotels that we collaborate with such as Graham Hotel.
There’s a Heritage Township Trail Route that covers almost 1,5km to different Heritage Sites in the Township such as the Lobengula Gravesite; the WWII Cemetery; the Mount Zion Royal Heritage Site; and the Egazini Memorial Precinct, and the Tourist's will get a chance to meet the wonderful local People of mixed Cultures and Races, a predominantly multi-racial Township. COME AND ENJOY A TIME TRANQUIL SURROUNDINGS!!!GREAT POTJIEKOS or A BRAAI. Call for Bookings or send an email for Volunteering and DONATIONS!!!