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Monday 24 September is Heritage Day in South Africa.
A day to encourage people to learn and understand everyone else’s culture and traditions.
City Vision visited Sinethemba and Joe Slovo High Schools in Philippi, to ask learners what they really understood this day to mean in the lives and personally.
OMHLE FONJANA,16, a Grade 11 learner at Sinethemba said it is very essential to celebrate Heritage Day because it educates them about their culture and traditions.
“As a young generation, the majority of us don’t know about our backgrounds. We don’t even ask each other’s clan names and we don’t follow how certain rituals are done because we have a certain perception that those are for old people.”
He said those who still follow their cultures are labelled backwards.
Fonjana said people tend to leave their culture and follow Christianity because they want to be accepted by the community.
LIKHONA MATUTU,16, a Grade 10 learner, also from Sinethemba said Heritage Day encourages people to learn about their cultures.
“Heritage Day is still relevant even today because it encourages us (young people) to learn and know our backgrounds because without knowing our roots, will never know who we are.
It also educates us about ubuntu and to stop undermining each other,” she said.
SINALO MGOMA,13, described Heritage Month as a time when everyone has to celebrate and be proud of who they are; their culture.
“This is a month where all people in the country celebrating their different cultures together. It is vital to celebrate this month particularly as a black community because it reminds us of who we are. It also teaches us respect and how to behave.”
Mngoma is also a Grade 8 learner at Sinethemba.
LUSINDISO LURAYI,17, a Grade 11 learner at Joe Slovo High School in Khayelitsha, said Heritage Day is for everyone to celebrate their culture regardless of where they come from.
Lurayi said: “(Heritage) is educating us about our cultures and traditions.”
ZANDILE DYWILI,14, said: “To me, (Heritage)is about preserving our culture and traditions through practicing our rituals.”
CWENGA MLOKOTI,15, a Grade 10 learner, also from Joe Slovo High, said it is necessary to celebrate Heritage Day because it reminds and encouraging people to learn more about their culture.
“It is very important because our history is not something that is written down. So, it is easy to forget it, but by celebrating Heritage Day, we are able to share the information,” said Mlokoti.
See another Heritage Day story on page 8.
