An invigorating melting pot of colourful cultures
Heritage Day provides a time to celebrate our diversity
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.
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 find another way to celebrate South Africa’s heritage, 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. Organisations are working to preserve this special culture, including introducing 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 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 headdress 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 bare-breasted. The pipe smoking of Xhosa women is also well known, and a 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. The 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 how they organise their villages and marriages. Sotho people 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 Sothospeakers. In Tswana society, each member has a totem, which is usually an animal. Totems are inherited from the father and thus get passed on like an English surname.
The South Sotho people, originally from Lesotho, are identified with the brightly coloured blankets they often wear instead of coats.
The Shangaan people are mainly in the Kruger National Park area. 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 Zulu military system and tribal wear on Shangaan traditions but kept the beautiful Tsonga homesteads that include round huts with patterned thatch roofs.
The Soutpansberg mountains of 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. Water is an important theme; they believe lakes and rivers are sacred and that rainfall is controlled by the python god. Beliefs in the spirit world influence Venda art – their wood carvings, pottery and the decoration of their buildings. Drums are central in the culture and there are legends and symbols linked to them.
The culture of Swazi people involves music, food, religion, architecture, kinship among many other things. The Swazi people are composed of various Nguni clans. These people mostly live in Swaziland and South Africa.
Last, 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 South African form, called Afrikaans.
As South Africans celebrate Heritage Day, Muslims across the world commemorate Eid al-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”.
Sources: www.sahistory. org.za and www.showme.co.za