The Name is China, Sam China
Image: Supplied
OUR research has in part being dedicated to turning the numbers that were given to the indentured into people. As we stalked the corridors of archives, scanned the newspapers of the time and poured over the reports of commissions, we got a deep sense of their refusal to be simple cogs in the colonial labouring machine, but human beings, with hopes and desires to build a life on African soil.
In this 20 year journey, we have learnt to be patient, to search material with a fine toothed comb, to follow small details, to accept that there will be dead-ends. But the rewards of what Jacques Derrida called archive fever is to uncover and bring to light incredible stories that would put Bollywood to shame and reduce Crocodile Dundee to tears of awe.
Sam China with his extended family in Kimberley, 1900
Image: Supplied
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
In this column we present, the name Sam China who, if you were the follower of the game of football, would be as well-known as a Patel's beans bunny in the 1960s. It is a story of a of a man who arrived as an indentured labourer and built a life that would give so much to a people who had so little. We honour Sam China and the legacy he bequeathed.
The name Sam China was inscribed in the memory of many generations as the name of the premier soccer competition in which Indians competed nationally until the 1970s. As the 1960 tournament brochure described it, the 'nameless, magic quality of the Sam China Cup kept pulling them in, in their usual thousands'.
Many Indians made their way to Kimberley following the diamond boom.
Image: Supplied
Sam China was six when he arrived in Natal in 1863 as Camatchee Seeneevassen, indentured number 1856, on the Earl of Hardinch from the French colony of Pondicherry (now Pudicherry) in September 1863 with his parents Seeneevassen Maurimutoo and Anundoyee, and siblings Peraman, Arjoonenv, Rungasawmy, and Veramah.
As a teenager, Sam China worked for William Hartley's Overport Sugar and Coffee Estate, which covered the greater part of present-day Overport and subsequently joined a M Smith, manager of Standard Bank, as a "stable boy".
Students of the Perseverance School, Kimberley, early 20th Century
Image: Supplied
Sam China gave up his right to a free return passage to India when he obtained a licence on 31 March 1875 to leave Natal. Together with five friends, legend has it that they went by foot Kimberley in 21 days. Sam China was part of a stream of Indians who moved to Kimberley where the diamond industry was flourishing.
The newspaper Diamond Fields published an article in 1874 on Indian life in Kimberley: 'Our Coolie friends are on the rampage just now. Generally speaking, the mild Hindu on the diamond fields takes life and its cares more easily than other exotics. At all hours of the day, let alone the night, they may be found in their odorous quarters, some playing pitch and toss for shillings and half crowns, some chanting their devotions in the whine of primitive piety, some professing to sell stale cucumbers, and other green and yellow impositions; all enjoying an enviable immunity from solicitude.'
Sam China (right) with some of Kimberley's leading merchants.
Image: Supplied
Another report in Diamond Fields in 1880 observed that Indians earned a living as 'itinerant purveyors of fruit and vegetables', barbers, proprietors of hot and cold baths, and waiters. By 1899, there were approximately 1 500 Indians in Kimberley out of a population of around 35 000.
Sam China worked for Rogers Bros for several years before opening his own general dealer's and fruit business in Kimberley in the mid-1880s. He was well known to influential white figures in the city, including mining magnate Cecil John Rhodes. Several members of his extended family followed him.
Sam China had two daughters, Patty, who married boxing promoter Nat Moodley, and Valliamah, who married Leo Gopaul and was one the first Indian women councillors in the Cape.
Nat Moodley was a renowned figure in the sporting world. He was president of the Natal Indian Football Association, executive member and treasurer of the Durban Indian Sports Ground Association and manager of Natal teams at the Sam China Cup. He was best known as a boxing promoter whose bouts drew thousands to Curries Fountain. Nat Moodley's only son, named Sam China after his grandfather but popularly known as 'Booysie', was associated with Young Aces soccer club for many years.
Sam China has been described as "at heart, a great philanthropist whose hands itched to give generously to any cause that required his support". He is most famous for donating a trophy for which Indian provincial teams competed. He saw the national competition as an opportunity to bring Indians together and forge a common Indian South African identity. The Sam China Cup was designed and manufactured in London by Lezard and Robins.
The tournament, held under the auspices of the South African Indian Football Association, generated great excitement and the games avidly followed. One official reflected in 1960 that "not even Sam China, however much he may have stretched his imagination, could have visualised the impact his munificence in the presentation of the Cup would have on Indian soccer in particular and non-White soccer in South Africa in general, thirty years after his death".
The magic ended when the final whistle was blown in Chatsworth in 1973. His contemporaries' wonderful memories were recorded in tributes such as the following: 'Those who have had the privilege of knowing him attest to the fact that Sam China was a man of unimpeachable trustworthiness, possessed of a driving force, and a shrewd business brain that gave him the Midas touch…
"He was a martinet who carried himself with an old world dignity. His ability to analyse a given situation, his clarity of thought, and the gift of galvanising those around him into immediate action to meet any problem lifted him above mediocrity. His was not the good fortune to receive formal education but he was one of the best informed men of his day… But of all his attributes his greatest was his ability to make and keep friends. He never forgot his beginnings, however much he rose as an amazingly successful businessman and outstanding public figure.'
Sam China died in Kimberley on September 9, 1930, appropriately when footballers from all over South Africa had gathered in Kimberley to participate in the Sam China Cup. The captains of the participating teams acted as pall-bearers while all the players wore black armbands throughout the tournament. It was a fitting farewell for one who rose from indenture to become a great sports benefactor, and whose name and legend lives on.
As the 95th anniversary of his death looms, think about Sam China as you get engrossed once more by the English Premier League. Spare a smile for a man who walked from Overport to Kimberley and reputedly introduced himself to Cecil John Rhodes with the words; 'China, Sam China from India'.
Ashwin Desai
Image: File
Goolam Vahed
Image: File
Ashwin Desai is at the University of Johannesburg and Goolam Vahed is at the University of KwaZulu Natal.
THE POST

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
Is Beyoncé's Levi's campaign teasing her new album? The Beyhive reacts
Beyoncé has ignited excitement among fans with her latest Levi's campaign, hinting at the much-anticipated 'Act III' of her album trilogy. Image: X This is not a drill, Beyoncé has dropped more easter eggs about 'Act III' of her trilogy albums, igniting fresh speculation among the Beyhive following the release of her latest campaign for Levi's. The short film, titled 'Chapter 4: The Denim Cowboy', was posted by Parkwood Entertainment, Beyoncé's company, on August 4 and features her wearing 'denim on denim' outfits. The campaign marks the fourth instalment in Beyoncé's ongoing collaboration with Levi's and showcases her navigating a range of classic Americana settings. From riding a horse into town, doing laundry in a laundromat, and eventually speeding away on a motorcycle dressed in rhinestone-studded denim. The ad's visual storytelling, combined with the division into three parts, which are 'The Ice', 'The Heat' and 'The Smoke', has led many to believe it contains references to the three-part album project Beyoncé previously teased. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Beyoncé's "Renaissance" (2022) and "Cowboy Carter" (2024) have been understood to be Acts I and II of a trilogy. With her country-focused "Cowboy Carter" era officially ending after the close of her tour last month, fans are interpreting this latest Levi's spot as a symbolic transition into the third act, which could potentially be a rock album. The shift in aesthetic is also fueling this theory. While Beyoncé begins the campaign in traditional denim as well as western wear, she ends it in a striking glam-rock ensemble. Beyoncé stuns in new 'Denim Cowboy' ad for Levi's. — Pop Base (@PopBase) August 4, 2025 She's also wearing bold make-up and heavily styled clothing, suggesting a significant genre transition. Fans have pointed out that the transition from horse to motorcycle could represent a narrative evolution: from the themes of country to the raw energy of rock. One fan account on X @beyoncegarden wrote: 'BEYONCÉ ARRIVING ON A HORSE & LEAVING ON A MOTORCYCLE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE— ACT 3 IS COMING, GET UP 😭😭😭😭.' BEYONCÉ ARRIVING ON A HORSE & LEAVING ON A MOTORCYCLE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE— ACT 3 IS COMING, GET UP😭😭😭😭😭 — 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆🫧💚 (@beyoncegarden) August 4, 2025 Another X user @KevCoke6 commented: 'I didn't even realise that Beyoncé's Levi's ad was teasing the transition from country to rock. Horse to motorcycle 🤔.' I didn't even realize that Beyoncé/Levi's ad was teasing the transition from country to rock. Horse to motorcycle 🤔 — kevikev (@KevCoke6) August 4, 2025 This interpretation is further supported by Beyoncé's recent public appearances and editorial work, which have included nods to rock icons such as Prince and Betty Davis, as well as fashion choices that align with 1970s and 1980s glam rock styling. Though Beyoncé has not officially confirmed the release of 'Act III' or provided details on its genre or timing, the Levi's campaign has become a focal point for speculation.

IOL News
8 hours ago
- IOL News
ACDC Dance Intersect 2025: a celebration of global dance in Cape Town
Anderson Carvalho Dance & Choreography (ACDC) is a Netherlands-based Non-Profit Contemporary Dance Foundation founded by acclaimed Brazilian-Dutch choreographer Anderson Carvalho. Image: Anna Lenartowska Cape Town is poised to resonate with the vibrant energy of international dance as the ACDC Dance Intersect 2025 takes centre stage from 2 to 4 October at the prestigious Artscape Theatre. This remarkable event is not only a celebration of dance but it embodies a rich tapestry of cross-cultural collaboration, showcasing both classical and contemporary ballet performances that promise to leave an indelible mark on audiences. At the heart of ACDC Dance Intersect 2025 lies a spirit of artistic exchange. This year's festival will feature the esteemed Greek National Opera Ballet making its South African debut, alongside renowned choreographers and dance companies from the Netherlands, Brazil, and various African nations. Produced by South Africa's own Elvis Sibeko, the event is an ambitious initiative led by internationally acclaimed choreographer Anderson Carvalho, the founder of Anderson Carvalho Dance and Choreography (ACDC). Its goal is to unite audiences and artists through the universal language of dance. 'Dance Intersect is not just a performance - it's a meeting point for cultures, ideas, and bodies in motion,' Carvalho expresses. Infusing his Brazilian heritage with classical and contemporary forms, he aims to initiate new dialogues through movement, encouraging an exchange of stories and techniques that broaden artistic horizons. 'We are here to spark new conversations through movement; to show what's possible when we listen to each other through art,' he adds. Cape Town, a city imbued with a rich cultural history and dynamic creative energy, serves as the ideal backdrop for this celebration. Audiences can anticipate a captivating array of performances, including neoclassical pieces, Afro-contemporary fusions, and avant-garde ballet, all delving into themes of identity, transformation, and unity. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Anderson Carvalho is an internationally acclaimed choreographer, dancer, and creative director whose dynamic career spans Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa. Originally from Brazil and now based in the Netherlands, Anderson has collaborated with leading dance institutions, including the Greek National Opera Ballet, DOX Utrecht, and Dansmakers Amsterdam. Image: Marko de Beer Elvis Sibeko, the producer known for his innovative blend of traditional African storytelling with contemporary performance, remarks: 'This is a moment of pride for South African dance. We're not only sharing our stories but expanding our artistic vocabulary through collaborations with world-class performers. It's a new chapter for cultural exchange on the continent.' Among the programme highlights are:

IOL News
12 hours ago
- IOL News
Women's Month: meet the trailblazing female artists redefining South African music
Adelle Nqeto's artistry is quiet but radical - speaking to the messy, beautiful truths of being human. Image: Instagram Every August, South Africa pauses to honour the courage, strength and brilliance of its women - and, in 2025, the celebration feels especially resonant as a new wave of dynamic young women reshapes the music industry with unapologetic talent and fearless creativity. From soulful vocalists to genre-bending producers and sharp-tongued lyricists, these young artists are not only creating music - they are crafting culture. Whether it is the hypnotic beats of Amapiano, the healing power of gospel or the raw truth-telling of hip hop, women are commanding the mic and shifting the narrative. They are occupying space in genres traditionally dominated by men and carving out their own identities in sonic landscapes that have long lacked their voices. Here are six rising stars whose journeys, voices and artistry deserve the spotlight this Women's Month: For Thatohatsi, every song is a conversation, and every performance an offering of vulnerability and power. Image: Thabang Mathibele Sebata Thatohatsi Hailing from the tight-knit community of Payneville Springs in Gauteng, Thatohatsi's musical path began in the pews of her local church and the grassroots platforms of community arts. Her voice - both emotionally rich and technically honed - developed early, not in glossy studios, but in shared spiritual experiences and community connection. Her breakout track 'Xolele', created alongside Ntando Yamahlubi, Mphoet, Blaq Note and Jaz, became a runaway hit on TikTok, resonating deeply with a generation hungry for music that is both catchy and meaningful. But it was not just virality that defined her moment - it was her raw sincerity. Her voice does not just sing; it speaks, it reaches, it heals. Since then, she has continued her rise, impressing industry veterans not with gimmicks, but with consistency, lyrical honesty and a fierce work ethic. For Thatohatsi, every song is a conversation, and every performance an offering of vulnerability and power. Neo Dube's rise to fame has been both inspiring and uplifting. Image: Neo Dube Instagram Neo Dube Born and raised in Umlazi, Dube's journey from church choirs to major awards stages is a testament to passion, vision and soul. Music has always been a vehicle for storytelling for Dube - a way of honouring her history and healing the present. With roots planted in gospel harmonies and a spirit shaped by community, her sound blends soul, jazz, R&B and African folk into something deeply personal. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Sjava, Jill Scott, Busi Mhlongo, Thandiswa Mazwai and NAO, Dube creates sonic landscapes that echo with memory, resistance and love. Earlier this year, she was named Best New Artist at the Metro FM Awards - a well-deserved recognition of an artist who does not just sing songs, but tells stories that linger. Dube's music is emotionally intelligent, poetic and layered - the kind that stays with you long after the final note. And as she continues to evolve, she is not just creating music - she is shaping a legacy. Rapper, poet and cultural activist Lex LaFoy is a force of nature. Image: Johny Lex LaFoy Durban-born rapper, poet and cultural activist LaFoy is a force of nature. From her early days as a battle MC under the name Lexikon to her evolution as a genre-fusing artist, LaFoy has never shied away from the uncomfortable or the bold. She is the creator of Honey Bass, a sound that blends hip hop, trap and electronic textures with sharp lyricism and spiritual femininity. Armed with a degree in Psychology and Philosophy, she brings critical thought, introspection and activism to every bar she spits. Her projects 'Honey Bass', '22' and 'NewWorldDaughter' are more than music releases - they are statements of identity, resilience and empowerment. Adelle Nqeto's artistry is quiet but radical - speaking to the messy, beautiful truths of being human. Image: Instagram Adelle Nqeto Nqeto is a quiet storm. A folk-rooted, jazz-influenced singer-songwriter with an introspective gaze and poetic sensitivity, she crafts music that feels like a conversation with your soul. Raised on a steady diet of piano lessons, violin, church choirs and acoustic guitar, Nqeto's sound is both deeply personal and universally resonant. She began her career as part of a beloved acoustic duo performing across South Africa, and in 2015, boldly stepped into her light as a solo artist. Since then, she has released two EPs, performed in Europe and SA, and made Berlin her creative home base. Nqeto's artistry is quiet but radical - speaking to the messy, beautiful truths of being human. Her music is for those seeking refuge in melody, complexity in simplicity and comfort amid chaos. Whether performing solo or leading her band, Nobuhle Ashanti plays with the finesse of a veteran and the curiosity of a pioneer. Image: Lauren Manning Nobuhle Ashanti A classically trained violinist and a powerhouse jazz pianist, Ashanti is one of Cape Town's most exciting new musical voices. With a deep understanding of both Western classical structures and African sonic traditions, she crafts compositions that are intellectually rich and emotionally stirring. Having honed her skills through the Beau Soleil Music Centre and a host of prestigious youth programmes, Ashanti founded her project Ashanti Tribe in 2018, fusing South African jazz, R&B, jazz fusion and soul into a sound that is both innovative and rooted. Whether performing solo or leading her band, she plays with the finesse of a veteran and the curiosity of a pioneer. Her music is textured, layered and deeply intentional - the kind of sound that rewards repeated listening and reveals something new every time. Carla Franco's music is timeless - fusing classical sensibilities with modern songwriting, all wrapped in lyrical vulnerability. Image: Facebook Carla Franco Franco's journey is one of defiance and deep artistry. Born with 20-30% hearing loss and reliant on hearing aids, Franco has never let her condition define her capabilities. It has given her an extraordinary sensitivity to sound and emotion - a gift evident in every lyric she writes and every chord she plays. She began playing piano at age seven, and in 2022, released her debut album 'Chapter I' - a deeply intimate and musically sophisticated offering that marked her arrival as a bold new voice in South African pop and indie music. The album is more than just a debut; it is a mirror to the soul, exploring themes of identity, loss, growth and self-acceptance. Franco's music is timeless - fusing classical sensibilities with modern songwriting, all wrapped in lyrical vulnerability. Her resilience is not just inspirational - it's transformative. This Women's Month, we do not just celebrate them; we listen, we amplify, and we honour their work. Because in every beat, every lyric and every performance, they remind us that the most powerful revolution often begins with a song.