120 Years in 120 Objects
Join the KwaZulu-Natal Museum in celebrating the museumโs 120th year of orbiting the sun. Staff and guest curators have chosen one object or item per year of our existence to highlight to the public. Visit the website and our social media platforms regularly to see the latest object and keep an eye out for information about a physical exhibition later this year!
Todayโs Collection is from 1930
The Bowden Collection by Dimakatso Tlhoaele, Collections Officer
Mr Denys Bowden joined the KwaZulu-Natal Museumโs (then Natal Museum) board of trustees in 1961 and served in that position for 23 years. He also collected objects from the 1930s onwards. He was principally interested in Zulu culture and history, especially in the northern KwaZulu-Natal regions. He did extensive collecting in the Bergville area recording the amaNgwane and amaHlubi tribes. He also worked on the Zulu Royal Court at Umgungundlovu and some significant pieces in the KwaZulu-Natal Museum come from this area. On his death in 1987, his wife donated his collection to the Museum. The collection comprises 969 items, which are accessioned into the Anthropology Collection.
A small sample of the items from the Bowden Collection.
