We have been celebrating our heritage in South Africa annually on the 24th September, but the interpretation and understanding of what culture/heritage can often be limited to the colourful traditional outfits of the various ethnic groupings represented in the country-VhaVenda, Bapedi, Basotho,Vatsonga, amaNdebele, amaZulu, and so on.
Heritage is defined as what we have inherited from the past, to enjoy and value in the present, and to preserve and share with the current generations who must in turn pass it to the generations to come. It is passed on from generation to generations – from the family, community, cultures, country, and community and places where people have been raised, but includes that which is part of the national consciousness.
Different people define culture in different ways, for example “Culture: learned and shared human patterns or models for living; day- to-day living patterns, these patterns and models pervade all aspects of human social interaction. On the other hand, culture is the way of life of a given people within a particular geographical location. It entails how people behave and perceive different life issues. It includes aspects like religion, customs, language, beliefs, food among others. Probably the biggest challenge is the definition of “our.” In fact in most places there is no single “culture.” Rather, we participate in one or more subcultures.
Culture is the characteristic of group of people defined by everything such as language, religion, lifestyle etc. Different people in different societies have different culture but they also have some similarities. The culture varies in different things such as clothes, foods, religion and many others. Our heritage becomes part of who we are as it reflects our history. It helps us understand and explain why we are, who we are , and the way we are.
Culture is the identity of a group of people living in specific place; they have their own sketch of life what the culture says they follow that. Those who do not follow their culture or do some changes in that, they haven’t give any values to them because they are not following their religion.
Questions of Culture and Identity is not as straightforward as they might first appear. Perhaps the first and best place to begin addressing these issues is by acknowledging that in a country like South Africa, there is not one heritage, or an easily delineated set of distinct identities. The cultures, languages and heritages of South Africa are multiple, diverse, and dynamic.
Thobeka Mda of the “Sunday Times-29 September 2024” wrote that South African heritage includes the Union Buildings, Robben Island, the Cradle of Humankind, Sudwala Caves, Hole in the Wall, Cape Point, Swartkrans and Kromdraai, uKhahlamba, Drakensburg Mountains, Table Mountain, Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape, Bushman’s Kloof rock art, St Lucia wetlands, golds and diamonds mines, the springbok, lion, African buffalo, African wild dog, Cape Vulture, Secretary Bird, the protea, fynbos, the oral and written local languages, songs Imbube, Igqirha Lendlela (the click song), seshweshwe fabric, pap, rooibos tea, bobotie, sosaties, koeksusters…”
South Africa is a complex country in that it has no common language or shared traditions and customs emanating from the 11 languages spoken in the country. It is difficult to reflect on whether the cultural celebrations (in the country) of these cultures and languages contributes positively or become an impediment, to the fostering of South Africanness – a national identity and pride of the true South African Heritage.
It is important to understand that culture brings people together, and they become closer to one another by socially interacting with each other daily. Interestingly, culture is something that we all share, it does not belong to a specific individual. This would include, morals, values, traditions, etc. Like leprosy, culture is capable of been transferred from one generation to another.
There is more to heritage than our mini-group meetings and our colourful traditional (regalia) outfits/costumes which are worn annually during heritage month (24th September). Neither is heritage supposed to be reduced into a once of annual event that people gather for braai, cultural music, dances and showing of our traditional outfits. Heritage has to do with those things that defines us individually and collectively, which were passed down to us by the generations who preceded us.
Whilst South Africans seem to think that they are preserving and sustaining their diverse cultures, annually on the 24th September, we are gradually losing it to other cultures, in particular, the global culture. Questions about ways to promote and sustain our heritage should be asked and means sought on how to tackle the deculturing of South Africa’s rich and diverse cultures?
The Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture should introduce strategies that will help the youth into actively participating and embracing their cultures. Perhaps, the first thing to be done would be to intoduce compulsory educational programs aimed at nurturing the youth into knowing their identity and the understanding of the diverse cultures within their country.
Maybe Culture and or Heritage should be celebrated everyday in order to have it passed effectively from generation to generations! Culture is dynamically changing according to the environment and influence from other (foreign) cultures through the food they eat, dresscode, as well as the language they continue to speak. There are lot of people who when visiting other cultural society, they adopt that and forget about their own (culture).