South Africa’s Rainbow Heritage

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South Africa is endowed with a rich cultural heritage. The month of september is dedicated to the celebration of the various traditions of this great African nation. In keeping with this, we got input from individuals from different tribes in an effort to highlight the cultural diversity of South Africa.

From art, craft, fashion, landscapes and food discover the heritage, cultures and traditions that make Mzansi the vibrant, rainbow nation it is famously known as.

As is with my iziduko and izithakazelo that I am born into and it is no wonder for me to observe the connectivity that I share with my fellow Afrikans in all of their diversity. 

My culture my tradition my heritage.
I am born into my heritage and heritage is born in me. It’s a never ending story that is contained in my name: Ayanda Ndaba and within my clan names (iziduko/izithakazelo zam). The tale of iNgwanekazi Msuthukazi maKhoza uVathu Bija Matiwane… Deep deep down from the Lembombo mountains bordering kaNgwane. My heritage is all inclusive of abaNtu… ama Afrika. It is that notion that I appreciate and honour about my heritage. As is with my iziduko and izithakazelo that I am born into and it is no wonder for me to observe the connectivity that I share with my fellow Afrikans in all of their diversity. It is the topography of the land, the oceans, fauna and flora that is born inside of me and that makes my heritage a special one. The symbiosis I share with the land with all it’s provision for all to enjoy. The arts and crafts that come out of coexistence I share with the land is a divine serependity. My heritage is my name and my name is my heritage for no one can take that away from me…

What does Heritage Day mean to me?

To me it means, we as a nation , we do not see colour, and we RESPECT each other young and old… We are all united and are diversified….
“If You Walk Alone, You walk FAST, but If We Walk Together We Walk Far…”
My Brand is Shlobo Designs, where we marry cultures together to bring out a product!

Heritage month is about celebrating our very own identity as Africans.

Lerato Mokoena

I am a young woman in my mid-thirties. I grew up in a home where traditions were known but not practiced that much. However, growing up and reaching a stage in my life where I have the desire to know more about myself, where I come from and what makes me who I am requires that I delve deeper in my culture and traditions as a young African woman.

I am Sotho by birth, married into a Swazi family and surrounded by Zulu people. That meant I had to find the common ground linking me to these different beautiful cultures because all of these tribal groups, made me who I am today. I discovered that although the traditions of these different tribal groups may be slightly different, they are also very much alike.

Instead of finding myself torn between them, I actually found myself at home in all of them. Heritage month is about celebrating our very own identity as Africans but also embracing the colourfulness that each tribe brings to make us a happy rainbow nation. I am happy to be African.

The Tswana (Tswana: Batswana, singular- Motswana) are a Bantu-speaking ethnic group who are native to Southern Africa.

Food BaTswana eat: Pap is a staple food made from cornmeal which is often eaten with meat or vegetables, as is done in much of Africa. Bogobe is a bread made from various types of flour. The most popular sorghum porridge is Ting.

Culture and attire:
Batswana wear a cotton fabric known in Setswana as Leteisi and Sotho as Shweshwe.
Tswana music is mostly vocal and performed sometimes without drums depending on the occasion; it also makes heavy use of string instruments.

My Name is Tintswalo NwaMbatini Mathebula, a proud Tsonga women from Tiyani village situated in Giyani – Limpopo. Three things I like about being Tsonga is:

  1. Our attire – bright colors to me represents happiness and its attractive
  2. The food, we mostly cook food with organic ingredients.
  3. The dance/ music – it is very unique and it shows how energetic you can be.

I love the respect and appreciation show each other.

In SiSwati we have Umkhosi Wemhlanga. It’s a ceremony that’s enjoyed and celebrated by young women who are not married yet. Umkhosi Wemhlanga is one of the ways in our culture that encourages and promotes our young women to take pride in their womanhood. It is enjoyed and celebrated every year in the month of August (Ngenyanga yeNgci) towards the month of September (inyanga Inyoni).

1 Comment

  1. This article and pictures made me love Tswana traditional wear

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