History of Durban - South Africa

Durban, known as Tekweni by the Zulus, is situated in Kwazulu-Natal which is the ancestral home of the Nguni people of Southern Africa. Vasco De Gama is believed to have been the first European to see the bay of Durban whilst on a pioneering sea voyage to India in 1497. Vasco De Gama called the bay Rio de Natal (Christmas River). The area became known as Durban when the first colonial settlement took place. Durban was derived from Sir Benjamin D'Urban who was the governor of the Cape Colony in 1835.

In 1838 the Voortrekkers arrived in Natal and armed conflicts with the local Zulus increased. The Zulus were eventually defeated and a period of peace followed until conflicts between the Voortrekkers and the British for supremacy of the area started. The conflict was ultimately decided in favour of the British and in 1894 Durban was incorporated into the Cape Colony.

During the 19th century Indian labourers were brought into Durban to work on the sugar farms. They were later followed by traders from India and as a large percentage of the population of Durban today is Indian.