Heritage Day

[nairiporter]

A chance to celebrate our rich cultural diversity

http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/news/n14_24092008.htm

CELEBRATING Heritage Day gives South Africans the opportunity to appreciate our rich cultural diversity and to reflect on the intricacies of our colourful past, cultural leaders say.

Although September 24 was declared a national holiday 14 years ago, many South Africans are still unclear about what Heritage Day means, and whether or not it is still relevant to commemorate it today.

The provincial director of museums and heritage, Smilo Grootboom, said Heritage Day was an opportunity for all South Africans to show the country is united in its diversity – a diversity of languages, cultures and history.

“All South Africans, despite their colour, can come together to celebrate who they really are as a community and as South Africans,” he said.

He added that there was a different theme for Heritage Day each year, and this year South Africans would be celebrating the diversity of dance.

In 2005 Heritage Day was also branded National Braai Day, which recognises the informal South African tradition of braaing every other weekend or holiday.

In KwaZulu Natal, Heritage Day was known as Shaka Day, which used to commemorate the life of Zulu king Shaka Zulu, who played a major role in uniting the Zulu clans.

Thando Mqolomba, a history teacher at Tinara High School in Uitenhage, said Heritage Day was about the remembrance and preservation of our history. “It‘s a day for us to celebrate our history, cultures and differences, and it unifies us,” said Mqolomba.

“It‘s about promoting our racial and cultural identity, and highlights the racial integration of people in this country.”

Mqolomba said celebrating Heritage Day was still very relevant today because “we come from a past that discriminated against other cultures”.

Thanduxolo Lungile, provincial manager of the South African Heritage Resources Agency, said Heritage Day was a day to reflect on the country‘s unique, diverse heritage.

He said it meant different things to different people, and this year the department of arts and culture was focusing on dance as a theme because “it‘s a symbol of unity and is supposed to unite South Africans to know about their heritage”.