The Up & Coming Magazine

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Heritage Day is on September 24th. It recognizes and celebrates the cultural wealth of South Africans. They celebrate the day by remembering the cultural heritage of the different cultures that make up the population of South Africa. Various events are staged throughout the country to commemorate this day.

Living heritage is the foundation of all communities and an essential source of identity and continuity. Aspects of living heritage include: cultural tradition, oral history, performance, ritual, popular memory, skills and techniques, indigenous knowledge system, and the holistic approach to nature, society, and social relationships. In South Africa, the term “intangible cultural heritage” is used interchangeably with the term “living heritage”.

Living heritage plays an important role in promoting cultural diversity, social cohesion, reconciliation, peace, and economic development. In every community, there are living human treasures who possess a high degree of knowledge, skills, and history pertaining to different aspects of diverse living heritage. It is therefore important for South Africans to reclaim, restore, and preserve these various aspects of living heritage to accelerate the use of living heritage to address the challenges communities are facing today.

The Department of Arts and Culture developed a draft policy on the South African living heritage. This policy, once adopted, will set the tone for the South African Agenda and highlight the following roles: safeguarding living heritage as a valuable resource for future generations.

The month of September in South Africa is celebrated as Heritage Month. It is a time for reflection about their past. Heritage is often defined as their legacy, what South Africans live with in the present, and what they pass on to the next generation.

It’s a day for South Africans to acknowledge and celebrate the rich cultural diversity that makes up the “rainbow nation”. The day is also associated with Shaka Day, which commemorates the Zulu King Shaka, who played a key role in uniting the Zulu clans.

Heritage Origin

This holiday was established in post-apartheid South Africa to recognize and celebrate the country’s diverse cultural heritage.

Shaka Day: September 24th was previously known as Shaka Day in KwaZulu-Natal, honoring the Zulu King Shaka, who died on this day.

Uniting the Nation:

Shaka Zulu is recognized for uniting various Nguni clans into the Zulu nation, and his role is remembered on this day.

Celebrating Diversity:

Heritage Day encourages South Africans to embrace and celebrate their cultural backgrounds, traditions, and history.

Events and Activities:

Various events and activities are organized across the country to commemorate the day, including traditional food and clothing, cultural performances, and community gatherings.

This was written by our contributing writer, Duet Mlotshwa.