A museum in Grahamstown about all published South African literature as well as details on their writers.
It was formed in 1972 as the National English Literary museum with a small collection owned by prof. Guy Butler of Rhodes university. Back then it was a museum about South African literature written in English but was later changed to include all of the country's indigenous languages.
It is housed in the country's first 'green museum' — a newly built two storey complex with a large green roof for natural climate control, and various water saving technologies.
Its collection includes over 120,000 manuscripts, diaries, play-scripts, books, theses, press clippings, poems, essays, autobiographies, memoirs, diaries, travelogues, short stories, correspondence letters, photographs, audio visual material and equipment used for writing.
There's also an indoor theatre, outdoor ampitheatre and two conference rooms that are available for hire.
The Eastern star's former building and Schreiner house of the same city are part of the museum, with the former holding printing equipment and history of South Africa's press, whereas the latter used to belong to Olive Schreiner — a famous South African artist.
What to do thereSee and know more about South African literature or visit other
attractions in Grahamstown.
Best time to visitAny time of the year.
Location of Amazwi South African museum of Literature museumOn the western end of Grahamstown or Makhanda, near the Rhodes university's Prospect fields.
How to get thereBy vehicle, bus, walking, cycling — if from within Grahamstown.
There is a bus station nearby as well as a small airport just outside the town.
