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Reviews, get directions and information for Phansi Museum

Phansi Museum

About

A spectacular collection of Southern African arts, crafts and traditions.

Description

Phansi is pronounced ‘punzi’, meaning ‘below’ or ‘beneath in IsiZulu, after the basement location where it began. ‘Phansi’ is also traditionally known as the place beneath, where the ancestral spirits dwell.

The museum was started in 2000 as a small private museum, and has since expanded to host one of the biggest and most spectacular collections of African arts and crafts in the world.

The collection is held in Roberts House, a fully restored Victorian national monument, in Glenwood, Durban, South Africa. Three floors of the Victorian mansion are packed with Zulu beadwork, earplugs, wire baskets, milk-pails, beer-pots and fertility dolls ; Ndebele blankets and ceremonial items, and artefacts from the eastern Cape, Namibia and Kenya. The most popular exhibit is the life-size marionette room, where thirty life-size puppets are adorned with ceremonial dress from all over Southern Africa. This collection was exhibited at ABC Home, in Manhattan, New York, over the festive season 2008/2009, to great acclaim.

Museum hostess and tour-guide, Phumzile Nkosi, is a real treasure. Descended from Swazi Royalty,she is the ‘human face’ of the museum, and is extremely popular with visitors. Tours can last between 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the time-constraints of the visitor. The museum hosts cultural workshops and functions.

The publishing division, Phansi Publishing, publishes short runs of specialist-interest arts, crafts and cultural literature. It has for the last 10 years produced an annual calendar which has become an iconic collecters item, adorning the walls of rural schools and boardrooms alike.

The museum has a partnership with the Amazwi Abesifazane (Voices of Women) memory cloth project, and houses an archive of over 2000 memory cloths, exhibiting groups of these on a rotating basis. The BAT Shop has recently relocated from the BAT Centre to the museum, and sells funky original contemporay local crafts

Address: 500 Esther Roberts Rd, 4001 Durban
Phone: 0312062889
Email: moc.isnahp@hcraeser
Parking: Lot
City: Durban
Street Number: 500 Esther Roberts Rd
Zip Code: 4001
categories: art museum


Opening Hours

Monday: 08:00 - 16:00
Tuesday: 08:00 - 16:00
Wednesday: 08:00 - 16:00
Thursday: 08:00 - 16:00
Friday: 08:00 - 16:00
Saturday: 10:00 - 14:00


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Reviews
This important collection of historical and modern artefacts has been carefully curated to offer visual representations of indigenous South African cultures. Please support them! Would hate to see this special place lost to the public due to a lack of funding.Visited onWeekdayWait timeUp to 10 minReservation recommendedNo
Beautiful museum with country wide collection of traditional clothes, items and artwork. Curators are highly knowledgeable and friendly. The museum has a shop that sells local literature, jewelry and other traditional items.
The collection of artwork and beadwork was stunning. I highly recommend visiting this museum and gift shop. Next Time I am In Durban I will stop by the Phansi Museum.
Best selection of South African beadwork that exists... An absolute must see for anyone passionate about Africa.. ..
This museum is nicely tucked away in Glenwood. Very rich in heritage and culture when taking a tour through its doors and viewing the works of art as well as artefacts. Had fun as I attended an Ubuntu Artscapes exhibition hosted by students of DUT. The museum should have a tour guide for each new visit as this creates a connection and you understand the artefacts better. Would recommend for a date or family trip
This place is a Labour of Love no platitudes of architect, artist and art collector, Paul Mikula. It houses one of the most authentic zulu arts and craft collection. Devoid of any pretentious or superficial western or colonial take on Zulu art, you come face to face with the passion of the man behind the museum. The staff are people who worked and learned with Mikula over 30 years. Art and craft classes like pottery deliberately target rural schools not privileged learners who can afford art lessons. Many great African artists have come through the patronage of Mikula. Nothing reviewed here will suffice except for a personal visit. Go visit this place now !!
Phansi Museum should be on your list when you're visiting Durban. It's a really stellar private collection in a very unique building. Our guide, Phumzile, was amazing! She knew so much about the collection and was able to share some great stories. She also did a song and dance for us! Make sure to call ahead and book your time so you don't miss out. Parking available.
Really informative and interesting tour of southern african art! Everyone who works there is super passionate. Insipiring to experience the wealth of our people’s heritage and hear the stories behind each piece of art from beer pots and milk jugs to beaded stories and to all the different traditional dresses.
It's lovely place just small then I expected
We had a fantastic tour of the museum led by Phumzile Nkose. Beautiful items of beadwork, wood and pottery in particular are displayed. Phumzile really brought the items to life and explained their significance to Zulu culture and those of other South African tribes. Thank you very much.
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