Mgwali Cultural Village & Engine Museum
Mgwali Cultural Village
Mgwali Cultural Village, situated 25 km east of the town of Stutterheim, is one of the oldest settlements in the Eastern Cape. The Mgwali Mission is unique. It is the first mission station in the nineteenth century to be governed by a black man, the Reverend Tiyo Soga. Local crafts, traditional garments and woven materials are produced here. Traditional food is also served and visitors can view a museum of photographs, historical art and crafts depicting local history and customs. An elder in the community (Mr K Gija) explains the traditions and ceremonies while taking visitors on an ox-cart trip around the area to Sangomas (traditional healers), a pipe-maker and numerous artisans making traditional Xhosa pottery and other goods.
Engine Museum
Stutterheim Engine Museum is thought to have one of the largest and most comprehensive collection of restored stationary engines, all in mint running condition, in the world.
The oldest gem is a Mietz & Weitz engine dating back to 1905. Forgotten names like Ruston Hornsby, Wholesly, Bamford, Lister and Massey Harris are all there, saved from a scrap yard where they would have been crushed and melted down to be lost forever. The development and advancement of technology can be followed in the engines on display, some dating back almost a century to the very recent, world class, advanced Mercedes C200 Kompressor engine.
