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Assembly message: Heritage Day
This Sunday we celebrate a uniquely South African public holiday. First called Shaka Day in honour of the Zulu king, King Shaka who was credited with uniting various Zulu tribes mainly in KwaZulu Natal, the day was originally left off the approved list of public holidays promulgated in 1995. After strong objection from the Inkatha Freedom Party, comprising mainly Zulus, the day was added but re-named as Heritage Day and was to be a day where South Africans would celebrate their diverse cultures and heritage. In 2005 there was an attempt to re-brand the day as National Braai Day to celebrate a tradition that goes across cultural lines namely the cooking of meat over open fires – braaiing or shisanyama.
The word “heritage” refers to many things. It is not only a person’s history and culture or language but also refers to how a person sees him/herself and who he/she identifies with. Simply put – it is a feeling or a sense of belonging. Human beings throughout the world crave belonging and actively seek out like-minded souls to connect with. This can be as part of a family, a church group, a youth group, political party, service organisation, golf club and so on. We want to be part of something bigger than just us. Your school is also part of your history and your heritage.
Heritage is thus very much looking back at where we came from. It identifies us often through language but also through customs and clothing. Many of us feel connected to a culture and want to wear the attire that associates us with that culture. Each item of clothing has a meaning, whether it is the fez or yarmulke, beaded or tartan clothing, long robes, shoes, animal skins and so on. It can also be in the uniform you wear – as simple as the school uniform you put on for daily school or for playing sport. It is all part of who you are – as an individual but also as part of a group.
If I offered you the choice of not wearing school uniform ever, I am sure most of you would be initially delighted but would probably object. Apart from the obvious issues around choice each morning as to what to wear and having to have larger wardrobes, the uniform gives us that sense of belonging.
The South African motto “Diverse people unite” speaks of heritage and history but speaks too of something perhaps greater than that. It speaks of our need to celebrate and acknowledge our differences yet stand together as a nation to speak up against things that are wrong.
If I take the unity theme further but bring it closer to home – we are part of a House at school, yet part of the School as the greater being. As a member of a boys’ school, we join the larger brotherhood of boys’ schools throughout the country. And as members of the school-going youth, you join the approximately 1,1 million young boys and girls who are in each Grade around the country. You are part of the youth – a demographic that has played such a vital role in our country’s history.
Heritage Day is not just about black, brown and white, Xhosa, Afrikaans or English. It is not just about being Christian, Muslim, Jew or any other religion. It is about using our difference and our backgrounds to unite in a common cause, with common purposes and with a common good.
And so, I close with a challenge to you. One of the reasons we as human beings are reluctant to mix outside the groups we identify with is fear – fear of each other and fear of the unknown. Remove part of that fear by actively seeking out someone different from you. Ask them where they come from, what they consider their heritage and perhaps what customs and traditions they follow. And share yours. Speak about how births are celebrated (baptism), rites of passage (ulwaluko), weddings (lobola), deaths and so on. Remove fear through learning and celebrate each other – where we come from and how we, as different people together in one place, with common purpose, can make a positive difference.
Happy Heritage Day! |
