The Border Historical Society's September talk - in association with the Friends of the East London Museum - will be held 'live'. Mike Kenyon will present an illustrated talk on Nathaniel Cyril Kondile Umhalla on Tuesday 20 September 2022 at 19:00 in the Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer Hall at the East London Museum.

Nathaniel Cyril Kondile Umhalla (b. circa 1843 - d.1920 Mncotsho) had a cricketing career as batsman, captain and administrator for over 30 years. He was also a talented artist, an educator, catechist, law agent and customary law expert, journalist and historian. 

Nathaniel had studied in England, held the franchise in the Cape and was a leader from the outset of the emergent civil and political organisations from the 1880s. He was also the son of a recognised chief imprisoned on Robben Island and he himself had been acquitted on a very dubious charge of sedition. Yet he died on a mission station, quite possibly in a state of poverty. 

His life and the lives of some of his acquaintances reveal a great deal about the construction of inequality in the later nineteenth century.

Mike Kenyon had the good fortune to be taught as an undergraduate student by the likes of Jeff Peires and Julian Cobbing and holds a Masters degree in history from the University of Fort Hare.

• Please note the talk starts at 19:00 - not the usual 19:30
• All are welcome to attend.
• There will be time for questions
• Tea will be served after the talk.