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Government hosts virtual Heritage Day celebration

South Africa commemorates Heritage Month in September for a variety of reasons, including the promotion of nation building and social cohesion.

The government, through the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and the Presidency, will commemorate National Heritage Day digitally on Friday, September 24, in conjunction with the Western Cape Province.

The 2021 virtual Heritage day will be celebrated under the theme: “The year of Charlotte Maxeke: Celebrating South Africa’s Intangible Cultural Heritage”.

South Africans are called upon to celebrate and transfer their heritage because “It’s in Our Culture”.

What is Heritage Day?

Officially established in 1995, Heritage Day is a holiday in which all are encouraged to celebrate their cultural traditions in the wider context of the great diversity of cultures, beliefs, and traditions that make up the nation of South Africa.

In KwaZulu, the 24th of September was formerly known as Shaka Day, in commemoration of the legendary Zulu king. 

When the proposed Public Holidays Bill before the New South African Parliament omitted Shaka Day, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), a South African political party with a large Zulu membership, objected to the bill. 

A compromise was reached when it was decided to create a day where all South Africans could observe and celebrate their diverse cultural heritage.

Recently, organizations like the Braai4Heritage have called upon all South Africans to celebrate their common roots by having a braai (barbecue) on Heritage day.

National Heritage Council has endorsed ‘National Braai Day’ in 2008, this after it gained national momentum which united people across various cultural backgrounds under one banner.

What is heritage?

Heritage is the shared characteristics, traditions, practices, and beliefs that a family, community, or social group passes down from one generation to the next. Our heritage can include our natural resources, as well as our culture.

Natural heritage is our natural environment, such as mountains, rivers, protected areas and the animals that inhabit those areas. These areas, like the Cape Floral Kingdom, are unique and enjoy special recognition and protection internationally.

Cultural heritage is the creative and scientific values and innovations that shape us as a society. Poetry, art, film, as well as the rock paintings in the Cederberg, form part of our cultural heritage.

Even though heritage can vary from person to person, depending on our language, culture, and even the city we grew up in, we all share a common national identity as South Africans.

The Heritage Day recorded programme will be flighted on National Television Channels, radio stations and government social media platform (@GovernmentZa).

Official social media hashtags are:

# MyHeritageYourHeritage

#HeritageDay2021

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