Luthuli Museum

SABC SAfm radio interviews historian Jabulani Sithole about Nkosi Albert Luthuli for the Talk Shop programme.

The interview opens with a question to Sithole about Luthuli's Adventist connections, which leads to a discussion about his Church affiliations and then his education as well as a short history of Groutville and KwaDukuza. Sithole then moves the conversation towards Luthuli's leadership qualities and explains how these made it possible for him to reconcile factions within the ANC in 1944.

Luthuli's Nobel Peace Prize award is also discussed as is his relationship with the SACP and communism more generally. Just prior to the phone-in session, the matter of armed struggle is mooted. Sithole explains that even if Luthuli was personally uncomfortable with the formation of MK, once the decision was taken, it became the collective responsibility of the ANC.

Questions from listeners focus on Luthuli's knowledge of the scriptures as justification for armed struggle, what influenced Luthuli's world view, his stance on passive resistance, and his multi-faceted character, which meant he facilitated relations between the ANC, NIC, SACP.

The interview concludes with a short exchange on the circumstances surrounding Luthuli's death, an issue that Sithole declares is unresolved. Finally, Sithole draws attention to the continuing international attention received by Luthuli up until his death, which is evident by RFK's visit to Groutville in 1966.

Chief Luthuli was the first secretary of the South African Football Association.  He confesses in his autobiography that he became “a compulsive football fan” and mentions that he was “carried away helplessly by the excitement of a soccer match”.  This love for soccer led to his becoming supervisor and secretary of the Adams College Shooting Stars Football Club in the 1920s.


In 1929 he was elected vice-president of the Durban and District African Football Association (DDAFA).  He withdrew from soccer administration after he was elected as Chief of Groutville in 1936.   However, in 1946 he participated with Rev. Bernard Sigamoney (an Anglican pastor from Johannesburg) in establishing the Natal Inter-Race Soccer Board, which organised competitions between African, Indian and Coloured teams in Natal.

This painting, produced in anticipation of the 2010 World Cup, shows two women playing with a soccer ball.

Chief Luthuli was the first secretary of the South African Football Association.  He confesses in his autobiography that he became “a compulsive football fan” and mentions that he was “carried away helplessly by the excitement of a soccer match”.  This love for soccer led to his becoming supervisor and secretary of the Adams College Shooting Stars Football Club in the 1920s.

In 1929 he was elected vice-president of the Durban and District African Football Association (DDAFA).  He withdrew from soccer administration after he was elected as Chief of Groutville in 1936.   However, in 1946 he participated with Rev. Bernard Sigamoney (an Anglican pastor from Johannesburg) in establishing the Natal Inter-Race Soccer Board, which organised competitions between African, Indian and Coloured teams in Natal.

This painting, produced in anticipation of the 2010 world cup, shows two women playing with a football. Both wear hats and beaded adornments. At the bottom of the painting silhouettes of figures blowing vuvuzelas are depicted.

Chief Luthuli was the first secretary of the South African Football Association.  He confesses in his autobiography that he became “a compulsive football fan” and mentions that he was “carried away helplessly by the excitement of a soccer match”.  This love for soccer led to his becoming supervisor and secretary of the Adams College Shooting Stars Football Club in the 1920s.

In 1929 he was elected vice-president of the Durban and District African Football Association (DDAFA).  He withdrew from soccer administration after he was elected as Chief of Groutville in 1936.   However, in 1946 he participated with Rev. Bernard Sigamoney (an Anglican pastor from Johannesburg) in establishing the Natal Inter-Race Soccer Board, which organised competitions between African, Indian and Coloured teams in Natal.

This painting, produced in anticipation of the 2010 world cup, shows a woman kicking a football. She is wearing colourful boots and beaded jewellery.

Nokukhanya Luhtuli sitting with two elderly women. Nokukhanya wears a scarf on her head.