A photo taken 7 December 2005 shows the Maropeng Museum at the UN world heritage site, the Cradle of Humankind. Photo: AFP/Fati Moalusi
September marks the celebration of National Heritage Month, where we recognise and celebrate the cultural wealth of our nation.
A photo taken 7 December 2005 shows the Maropeng Museum at the UN world heritage site, the Cradle of Humankind. Photo: AFP/Fati Moalusi
Heritage Day is celebrated on 24 September every year. However, September is also known as Heritage Month. It is the perfect opportunity for South Africans to foster social cohesion, nation-building and a shared national identity.
Heritage Day was originally known as Shaka Day, in commemoration of King Shaka Zulu. In 1996, during an address marking Heritage Day, former President Nelson Mandela said:
“When our first democratically-elected government decided to make Heritage Day one of our national days, we did so because we knew that our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our new nation.”
Heritage Month is celebrated annually from 1 September to 30 September. The 2019 theme was Celebrating South Africa’s literary classics in the year of indigenous languages.
President Ramaphosa read books with local students to “showcase and appreciate South Africa’s rich literary heritage which must be preserved and sustained for generations to come”, the Presidency said at the time.
In addition, the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture has partnered up with the National Library of South Africa and the Publishers Association of South Africa to publish 4 000 books in isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, Sepedi, Setswana, SiSwati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.
Of course, there’s no one right way to commemorate Heritage Month. However, if you’re looking for something suggestions, keep reading.
“September marks the celebration of National Heritage Month where we recognise and celebrate the cultural wealth of our nation. South Africans celebrate the day by remembering the cultural heritage of many cultures that make up the population of South Africa”.
Gauteng Government
Did you know South Africa is home to nine world heritage sites and many more national heritage sites? A heritage site is categorised as a place with cultural and historical importance. The World Heritage Sites are:
South Africa’s nine World Heritage Sites offer a diversity and abundance of cultural and natural values that encapsulate the value systems of the country.
In most cases, heritage sites and infrastructures are named after struggle heroes, for example, the Nelson Mandela Museum and Steve Biko Memorial in the Eastern Cape. Why not visit some of the following places named after struggle icons?
Also read – These African World Heritage Sites are under threat from climate change