Remember your roots this Heritage Day

It is a day in which all are encouraged to celebrate their cultural traditions in the wider context of the great diversity of cultures, beliefs, and traditions that make up the nation of South Africa.

The theme is for 2013 Heritage Day celebration is Reclaiming, Restoring and Celebrating Our Living Heritage.

The day was formerly known as Shaka Day in commemoration of the legendary King Shaka Zulu, who is widely as the most influential leader of the history of the Zulu kingdom.

A warrior and military genius of note, Shaka is credited with uniting many of the northern Nguni people. His statesmanship and vigour marked him as one of the greatest kings in South African history.

Ahead of the democracy when the proposed Public Holidays Bill omitted Shaka Day, the Inkatha Freedom Party objected to the legislation. A compromise was reached when it was decided to create a day where all South Africans could observe and celebrate their diverse cultural heritage.

In an address marking Heritage Day in 1996, then State President Nelson Mandela stated: “When our first democratically-elected government decided to make Heritage Day one of our national days, we did so because we knew that our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our new nation.”

In the vein of celebrating shared culture rather than focusing on cultural divisions, an initiative by the Braai4Heritage controversially called upon South Africans to celebrate their common roots by having a braai on Heritage day.

After snubbing the idea in 2007 as trivialising, the National Heritage Council eventually endorsed it in 2008.