Somerset East, the beloved town of Jakes Gerwel and Paulet House, was renamed KwaNojoli in March 2023. As with most town name changes, it has elicited mixed feelings. While some residents feel it is high time to celebrate Nojoli and the rich history of the AmaXhosa, others think it is a waste of money and confusing. What’s in a name, after all? But who was Nojoli, and why are this royal figure and her people so important in the history of this part of the Eastern Cape?
In collaboration with the KwaNojoli (Somerset East) Museum, and with the generous support of the National Heritage Council (NHC), the Jakes Gerwel Foundation launched a research project on Nojoli in 2024. Mphuthumi Ntabeni, an award-winning author and native of the Eastern Cape with deep insight and knowledge of Xhosa history, took the lead on this project.
A documentary film entitled KwaNojoli: The Origins premiered on the 22nd of May 2025 at Paulet House.
A booklet named Our Voices are Left with Our Bodies: The Early Black History of KwaNojoli was also launched at this event. This booklet aims to outline what is currently known about Nojoli, the person and legacy of the name. It also aims to record the early black history of the place, KwaNojoli, formerly known as Somerset East, and to explore some of the ways in which a living black history might be told.
Please read this insightful glimpse of the history of the Eastern Cape here: