South Africans are commemorating Heritage Day today, a public holiday that has its roots in KwaZulu-Natal, where it was known as Shaka Day after the legendary Zulu king.
So vital was it that after Shaka Day was omitted from the proposed Public Holidays Bill pre-democracy, the IFP objected.
A compromise was later reached to create a day where all South Africans could observe and celebrate their diverse cultural heritage.
Braai4Heritage entered the fray in 2007 and called on South Africans to celebrate their common roots by having a braai on the day.
After initially snubbing the idea, the National Heritage Council endorsed it in 2008.
But whether you braai or celebrated the heritage of South Africa, the fact is that this is a unique country with 11 official languages, each cultural group bringing its own vibrancy to the diversity.
- The indigenous Khoi-Khoi and San were the early artists of South Africa as can be seen in the wonderful rock art across the country. The San were extraordinary hunters and trackers, and their tracking skills are still invaluable in the fight against poachers.
Today, their language is under threat, as is their nomadic way of life in the desert regions of the country. Organisations are at work to try to preserve this special culture, including bringing the language into the school curriculum.
- The Zulu culture was well known for the ferocity of its shield- bearing warriors, beadwork and basketry and the beehive grass huts that pepper KwaZulu-Natal’s hills.
Zulu beliefs are based on the presence of ancestral spirits, which often appear in dreams, and a supreme being who is seldom involved in the affairs of mortals.
- The Xhosa culture is well known for the complex dress code that indicates a person’s social standing. How senior they are, if they are married or single, if they are the new wife or have had a baby – all shown in the head-dress and dress of the wearer. A combination of a long skirt without a slit in front, together with a marriage bib and two beaded aprons means the wearer is a widow. The more elaborate the hat, the more senior the wearer. Only young girls may go around bare-breasted. The pipe smoking of Xhosa women is also well known and a huge variety of beaded pipes abound.
- The Ndebeles are renowned for the skill of their women who decorate their homes in vibrant geometric designs. Skills are passed from mother to daughter and the shapes used are often inspired by their intricately fashioned beadwork. Ndebele women wear neck rings and traditional blankets of striking colours.
- The Sotho groups of the South Sotho, Pedi and Tswana have some major cultural differences from the Nguni group, especially with respect to how they organise their villages and their marriages. The Sotho peoples tend to organise their homes into villages, rather than scattered settlements. The Nguni are grouped in clans, while totems, or praise-names taken from animals, distinguish the Sotho-speakers.
- In seTswana society each member has a totem which is usually an animal, totems are inherited from the father and thus pass like an English surname. The south Sotho people, originally from Lesotho, are identified with the brightly coloured blankets that they often wear instead of coats.
- The xiTsonga people are located mainly in the area of the Kruger National Park. Their culture is of mixed ancestry and was brought about due to the military actions of Soshangane, one of Shaka’s generals who fell into disfavour. Soshangane imposed the strict Zulu military system and tribal wear on Shangaan traditions, but retained the beautiful Tsonga homesteads that include round huts with patterned thatch roofs.
- The Soutpansberg mountains of the Limpopo are the home of the Venda people, the smallest of the South African cultures. Venda culture is built on a vibrant mythical belief system, and water is an important theme, believing lakes and rivers to be sacred, and that rainfall is controlled by the python god. Beliefs in the spirit world influence the Venda art – their woodcarvings, pottery and the decoration of their buildings. Drums are central in the culture.
- The culture of Swazi people involves music, food, religion, architecture and kinship among many other things. The Swazi people are composed of various Nguni clans SiSwati. These people mostly reside in Swaziland and South Africa.
- Lastly, there is the culture brought to South Africa by the European settlers, who were from different cultures of which the Dutch were the most influential.
They were joined by the French Huguenots, British and German settlers, each bringing their own flavour to the mix. Dutch became the official European language, and gradually transformed into the Afrikaans language.
As South Africans celebrate Heritage Day, Muslims across the world commemorate Eid ul Adha, the festival of sacrifice.
This year’s Heritage Day theme is “Our indigenous knowledge, our heritage: Towards the identification, promotion and preservation of South Africa’s living heritage”.
The editor and staff of the Pretoria News wish all our Muslim readers a blessed Eid-ul-Adha.
Pretoria News