Chatsworth’s history and heritage will be celebrated weekly throughout September at the Sunday’s Made in Chatsworth Market at Depot Road Memorial Primary School.
Author and organiser of the market, Kiru Naidoo, who has been archiving pictures and stories about his birthplace since he was old enough to read, said that it is 60 years since the first residents arrived in Bayview. The plan is to have an activity each Sunday that starts to build a legacy. Naidoo recalled that in 2020 various organisations including the Depot Road School governing body and management, Magazine Barracks and Railway Barracks Remembrance Associations, Sathya Sai, 1860 Heritage Centre, Sites of Conscience, Durban Book Fair and individual families came together to plant 160 banana trees as a living monument to mark the 160th anniversary of the first Indian indenture in South Africa. “The banana orchard is in fruit for the first time. In celebration of Heritage Month, the market traders in partnership with Hands on Foundation will plant vegetable seedlings to promote pavement food gardens all over Chatsworth. September 11 will see a peace concert showcasing traditional instruments and singing styles like Bhojpuri and Carnatic,” said Naidoo.
Heritage publisher, Anivesh Singh of MicroMega has been spearheading book clubs to support Durban as Africa’s UNESCO city of literature. “September 18 will be dedicated to the readers and writers of Chatsworth with a festival for book clubs,” said Singh. The last Sunday of the month will pay tribute to His Majesty, King MisuZulu KaZwelithini who would have been crowned on Heritage Day, 24 September. This event will be hosted jointly with the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Durban chapter. “Traditional sports like tug-of-war, three tins and goolie danda were popular at last year’s Heritage Day programme so we will repeat those activities,” said Viran Singh, local president of GOPIO. All events are free and open to the community from 9am until 3pm every Sunday. The market organisers may be reached on WhatsApp on 073-685-5426.
