Norwegian ambassador visits historic eShowe church with deep ties to Zululand

Norwegian ambassador visits Ntumeni’s historic church, highlighting its remarkable heritage and enduring Norway-Zululand connections.

1 hour ago

Muzi Zincume 2 minutes read

Norwegian ambassador Anne Beathe Kristiansen and members of the Imvuselelo Ntumeni Heritage Project and Ntumeni Lutheran Church leaders

In a historic visit, Imvuselelo Ntumeni Heritage Project NPC hosted the Norwegian ambassador at the old Ntumeni Lutheran Church outside eShowe recently.

Built in 1860, this is Zululand’s oldest surviving church with a unique history tying it back to Norway in the1800s.

Ambassador Anne Beathe Kristiansen was welcomed by the Bishop and Diocesan Secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, as well as by Liz Botha and Gugu Mhlongo, project directors and members of the project team, who showered her with locally-made gifts.

Discussions centred on the vision to make the church a centre for community reawakening.

Historical ties to Norway

Botha explained how Bishop Hans Paludan Schreuder of the Norwegian Missionary Society, and the Ntumeni church represent the earliest Norwegian influence in South Africa.

Schreuder came to South Africa as a missionary in the 1800s, with his lack of colonising ambition a vital factor in his influence of the Zulu kings.

This was at a time when Britain sought to conquer the Zulus, and in the lead-up to the war, Schreuder met with Sir Bartle Frere and advised Cetshwayo on how to respond to the ultimatum issued by the British.

Influence on the Zulu community

Schreuder had a brilliant mind, extensive medical knowledge and linguistic ability that enabled him to speak to King Mpande and successfully treat his arthritis.

This gained him access to Zululand to preach at a time when no missionaries were being admitted.

Norwegian ambassador Anne Beathe Kristiansen

Schreuder was also the author of the first grammar and dictionary of the Zulu language, with his mission one of the first places where Zulu people were taught to read and write.

In 1852, Mpande granted Schreuder 16 000 ‘morgens’ of land at Ntumeni, where a few years later, Daniel Nielsen – Liz Botha’s great-grandfather – began to build the church.

Bringing history to life

Although his efforts at mediation were not successful due to Britain’s warring intentions, he did succeed in ensuring the Ntumeni church remained standing when all other churches in Zululand were razed to the ground by Zulu warriors (impis), furious that churches had been used as forts by British troops.

Schreuder’s successful appeals to Cetshwayo to protect the mission after all these years led to the establishment of the Imvuselelo Ntumeni Heritage NPC.

The project now aims to restore the church and to reawaken the pride of Ntumeni people in their history, their environment and their talents.

“Anne Beathe Kristiansen’s interest and support mean a great deal to this project and this area, so important in the history of Norway-South Africa relations,” explained Botha.

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