By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Heritage Day on 24 September is a public holiday that encourages people in South Africa to celebrate their cultures in a broader context because the country’s make-up is so diverse.
According to SA History website, the day in KwaZulu-Natal is marked as Shaka’s Day to commemorate the iconic Zulu King Shaka Zulu.
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), which is a party that has a largely Zulu membership, rejected calls to omit Shaka’s Day just before the dawn of democracy during the proposed public holidays bill discussion in the early 90s. In a compromise, an agreement was reached for an inclusive day for all South Africans to observe and celebrate their heritage.
Former President Nelson Mandela said in 1996, marking Heritage Day, the reason to mark this day is that they knew how “rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our new nation.”
In a country that has battled decades longs segregation, institutionalised racism and violence, the logic behind celebrating a unifying national heritage was simple; but how people do it has not.
Meanwhile President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead the countrywide celebrations of Heritage Day on Friday.
The President will join a virtual ceremony hosted by the Western Cape province under the theme: “The year of Charlotte Maxeke: Celebrating South Africa’s Intangible Cultural Heritage”.
Government has declared 2021 as the “Year of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke” to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of the pioneering human rights activist whose legacy has paved the way for generations of anti-apartheid and present day social activists working for the improvement of socio-economic conditions for all South Africans.
According to the Presidency, endowed with abundant diversity of indigenous knowledge, languages and beliefs, South Africa’s intangible cultural heritage cements the identity and belonging of all its people.
These attributes are expressed in language, arts, customs, religion, clothing and food and the preservation of our natural habitat.
The national motto, “All diverse people unite” reflects the national values tolerance and respect for human, social and cultural rights.
“Heritage Day 2021 will celebrate the human treasures and living legends who are the repository of traditions and culture, knowledge and accumulation of intellectual capital,” said the Presidency.