Celebrating National Heritage Day

by Anke Nel, Department of Political Sciences

‘You can’t be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality—ubuntu—you are known for your generosity. We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world.’

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

We have now entered Heritage Month in South Africa, with 24 September declared National Heritage Day. Our understanding of heritage can be quite subjective as the concept itself is open to interpretation. This Heritage Day, we can consider where we come from and what the day means for us personally—our individual heritage. However, with everything that has been happening in the country over the last year, specifically the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 and the violent looting that took place in July, it is more important than ever to consider our South African heritage and all that we have to be proud of. We could consider what it is that makes us South African: is it our beautiful natural landscapes, such as the Table Mountain or Tugela Falls? Perhaps it’s the feeling you get when you hear a South African accent in a foreign country. For some of us, it is the fact that we are such a diverse nation, yet we can unify for a common cause. Maybe we all just enjoy a ‘braai day’ with our friends and family. Whatever being a South African means from your perspective, it’s important to reflect on and celebrate all the country and its people have to offer.

To celebrate Heritage Day, we asked some of our students from the Department of Political Science what their heritage means to them. Here is what they had to say:

Tyesha Pillay

The word ‘heritage’ has grown to encompass different notions for different people, but these notions share a few similarities. I believe that one’s heritage holds a great influence upon their life. Heritage provides a sense of belonging, emotional connection and acceptance, while also playing a key role in shaping our identity and the lens through which we view the world, and acts as an expression of our values and belief systems. My heritage embodies a dual nature—specific cultural traditions, values and beliefs inherited from both my Indian ethnicity/ancestry and my South African nationality.

Despite this collision of two worlds, I was able to find a fusion that suits me. I am a descendent of indentured labourers who first arrived on the shores of KwaZulu-Natal in the 1800s and brought with them their delicious spices/food, clothes, traditions, dedication to work and education, service to all and modesty—core tenets that have been passed on for generations. I may not speak any of the Indian languages, but I find solace in celebrating Hindu festivals, watching Bollywood movies, wearing traditional Indian garments on special/religious occasions, and listening to Hindi songs. At my core, I am proudly South African and place great emphasis on values such as honesty, acceptance, kindness, hospitability, resilience and the importance of food, friends, and family. I take great pride in adding an Indian twist to a braai or malva pudding, pairing my shorts and t-shirt with Indian-style jewellery and patterned takkies, and celebrating both Hindu festivals and those of other religions.

This fusion has shaped my values, approach to life/others and personality. My heritage has given me a sense of belonging and a support structure, which has helped ease any feelings of insecurity or fear. I consider education and hard work to be a catalyst for stability. No matter the obstacle, I am resilient in my efforts to overcome it. I strive for a balanced life and place great importance on the family structure and spending time with my family and friends. Most importantly, my heritage encourages being open-minded and accepting of others who are different to you—characteristics I consider vital in the era of social media and the demand to fit a specific mould.

Palesa Mbonde

For me, ‘heritage’ is the recognition and celebration of my culture. It embodies the experiences of those who have come before me and how their experiences influence who I am today and who I will be in the future. It means the acknowledgement that my identity as a young, black woman in South Africa is a culmination of a shared history that encompasses a multi-ethnic, multi-racial and multi-lingual existence. Heritage is my essence; it is the core of who I am. It is a guide from which to define a future that resonates with me—one that encompasses an endeavour to rewrite the regrettable parts of my history and shine a light on the parts that are valuable.

My heritage informs various aspects of my life, with the most significant being my ability to embrace difference. My parents come from different tribes that practice significantly different traditions. In my personal life, this has exposed me to different experiences throughout my life that I continue to learn from. My heritage makes it easy to accept and manage diversity, which brings multiple and, at times, opposing perspectives. As a citizen of one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, being open-minded and accepting of difference is integral to harmonious coexistence.

Andrea du Toit

While heritage usually stems from a person’s culture, I also believe that it is influenced by a person’s experiences, interactions, and choices. I was born into an Afrikaans family, raised by Afrikaans parents, but was educated in English schools. I therefore spent most of my time around people from different cultures and backgrounds, which gave me the opportunity to diversify my heritage to include traditions and practices from both my original heritage and those I was surrounded by. My friendships with people of different backgrounds have meant that I have been privileged enough to see and experience how different South African cultures celebrate their own heritage, beliefs, and history. I have also learnt about my own history from various perspectives, participated in cultural practices such as dancing in Volkspele, making koeksisters and melktert, and watching Afrikaans television programmes and movies. At the end of the day, I consider my heritage to be South African, complicated, and colourful. I think our diversity as a nation, and our experiences together as a country made up of people from across the world, means that on days like Heritage Day, we get to celebrate our uniqueness, our differences, and our belonging to humanity. This Heritage Day, I will be celebrating being part of humanity and working towards bettering the world.

Whatever your heritage may be, wherever you may come from, and whatever you believe, always remember that we are all human. Be kind, respectful, and generous, and celebrate these South African values this month.

Happy Heritage Day!