Heritage Day: is it a cultural event or just a chance to have fun?

Heritage Day is on Wednesday 24 September, but many institutions haven’t waited until then to celebrate.

Churches and other organisations in townships have been celebrating Heritage Day since the weekend.

GroundUp asked some young people born after 1994 what they know about Heritage Day and whether or not they will celebrate it.

Andiswa Likho from Gugulethu sees no point in making a fuss over Heritage Day.

“I believe the whole point of the day is to wear your cultural and traditional dress, to be proud about who you are.”

But, she says, people celebrate the day “because they do not want to go to work, and young people want to go out and have an excuse to drink by using Heritage Day.”

Noluthando Nkonyana from Philippi says she has been taught about Heritage Day since primary school.

“I celebrate the day because it is very important. It makes me remember who I am and where I come from.”

“We live in a Westernised society and many young people forget about their African culture and adopt other cultures. I believe that this day should be a reminder to many people about who they are and why they should acknowledge and appreciate the day,” says Nkonyana.

Nkosazana Mkhalipha from Khayelitsha agrees. Young people should understand their history in order to know where they come from, she says.

She says African culture is dying because the new generation is not interested in the teachings of the ancestors, and has neglected the value of its heritage.

“I believe that our history should be reinforced, especially to the youth. I am 19 years old, but I respect the foundation laid by our forefathers and I want to teach my children to respect and follow their African traditions.”

Youth have forgotten where they come from, says an elder from the Roman Catholic Church in Gugulethu.

“Today young people focus on drugs and partying. They are not interested in doing things that relate to their culture. They do not do imicimbi (traditional ceremony) and that is one of the reasons why they do not value this day, because they are not connected to their culture. The only things that are important to them are circumcision and lobola, but other than that they don’t know the values of their heritage,” says the elder.

Unathi Grootboom from Khayelitsha says he doesn’t care about culture and sees no reason to follow African culture and tradition.

“These days people have choices, and if they relate to a different culture or tradition than their African culture, then that is their choice. Times have changed and I will celebrate the day by going out and having fun with friends since it’s a public holiday after all,” says Grootboom.

For Nicolas Mabetha of Nyanga, Heritage Day is for people to enjoy. “If it’s your culture to drink and be drunk then the day is perfect to demonstrate that. And also South Africa is famous for its braai, so if we can mix alcohol and braai in one place then that is my perfect Heritage Day”.