This year marks the 21st Anniversary of the establishment of La Route du Prince Impérial, Louis Napoléon, a bold tourism initiative that follows the scenic, pilgrimage route through KwaZulu-Natal, taken by a mother in mourning as she followed the footsteps of her son to where he was killed during the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879.
The Prince Impérial, Louis Napoléon was killed in an ambush at uQweqwe, near Nquthu, on June 1, 1879.
The following year on the anniversary of his death, his mother, the Empress Eugenie, spent the night in vigil at the very spot, which is now marked as a monument to him.
Who would have thought that 138 years later, the monument would play an important role in driving a small, but vital tourism injection into the community at uQweqwe?
This year, the Alliance Francaise, Pietermaritzburg, founded in 1972 and the French Presence in KwaZulu-Natal cultural tourism research development project, founded in 1993, present a programme of engaging activities with a number of partners during the month of May – Africa month. Both associations play a valuable networking function in connecting France, Reunion Island and other Francophone countries with South Africa.

On Friday, June 2, the French Institute and the Alliance will present a public concert at the Tatham Art Gallery to celebrate local talent and welcome the Ambassador of France, Christophe Farnaud and other international guests. The concert is open to the public and features the Sobantu Secondary School isiscathamiya performers, the Impisi Mnyama Zulu Dancers, the Sobantu Secondary School Choir, Sandile Mabaso a celebrity opera singer in our province, an all-female quartet from the KZNPO and the Chistlehurst Academics and Arts Dance group, who promise a finale with great French flair.
A memorial mass with the Schola Musicae Sanctae choir led by Michael Lambert will be said on June 3 at the Allard House Chapel, KZN’s first Roman Catholic Church (performed in association with the requiem mass in the Imperial Chapel in Biarritz France).
Following the memorial mass, the dignitaries will depart for Dundee along the Prince Imperial Route pausing for tea with the French Augustinian Sisters in Pomeroy culminating in a French soirée at Elisabeth Durham’s Chez Nous BnB in Dundee. At the soirée the project leader will present a visual résumé of highlights of the past 21 years of Route development.

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The next day the delegation will visit the Jojosini Primary School in the community where the monument is situated, to inspect the sponsorship of the rain tanks and library donated by Panteix /Antalis and local donors.
The ceremony to commemorate the 138th anniversary of the death of the Prince and to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the route begins at 8am.
Ambassador Farnaud will lay a wreath on the Prince Imperial Memorial. Nkosi Madlalose and the Induna Mbatha will lay wreaths on the tombs of Trooper Abel and Trooper Rogers and Gugu Buthelezi will lay a wreath for the Zulu guide killed in the same ambush on June 1, 1879.
After the ceremonies, sporting events oorganisedby Nathi Sibisi of the Uqweqwe community will take place.
“We have an exciting line-up of Franco-Zulu related activities in Pietermaritzburg, in Dundee and the uQweqwe community during May,’ says convenor and project leader, Glenn Flanagan. “We welcome Francophiles and everyone who enjoys a slice of history, as well as those who are keen to experience the value of creating and developing fascinating historical and cultural links between different cultures and how this can benefit our communities – both rural and urban.”
For the full programme go to the Facebook Page: French Presence in KZN: La Route du Prince Impérial, Louis Napoléon.