Was it right to remove the statue of King Shaka at the King Shaka International Airport?’ 79% of our readers say no.
Followers of The Ridge Online have spoken and, of those who voted in our poll, 79% said, no, the statue should have remained.
The statue by local artist Andries Botha was removed after complaints from the Zulu Royal household that it was not a true representation of the warrior king. Shaka’s herd of cows (photographed above) remains, but the king has long gone.
Comments that came in are listed below:
I was so proud of the statue when we fetched our daughter at the airport. I was very despondent to read that it was to be removed – just as devastated as I was that the elephants’ statutes have not seen light of day. I will have to be content with the photo my daughter took of two elephants (mother and baby) crossing the road on a sandy road in Kruger Park which I use as my computer screen saver. I never tire of the scene.
Posted by Clare Kidger on June 15 2010
Political interference in matters of public art is frightening. Let us not perpetuate the colonial or Africanist myth(s) about Shaka, but rather envision him as the archetype we desire for African leadership today, in which nobility can be iconised as contemplation rather than warriorship. Also, let us trust the vision of our artists, otherwise, why have them?
Posted by Sheena Stannard on June 25th 2010
Politicians should mind their own business (in the trough?). Public art is essential to our cultural experience and, if it is to be at all meaningful creatively, should be left to artists to do. Politically correct public art is DEAD. Politically-controlled public art is likewise DEAD. The statue of Nelson Mandela in Sandton does him no favours, courtesy of our politicians! And what have elephants to do with ANC vs IFP politics, anyway? Is the ANC THAT scared?
Posted by Errol Westoll on July 22
VOTE BELOW RIGHT