Why Celebrate Heritage Month?

Why Celebrate Heritage Month?

September in South Africa is celebrated as Heritage Month — a time for reflection about our past.

Heritage is often defined as our legacy, what we live with in the present and what we pass on to future generations to learn from, to marvel at and to enjoy. 

There are two heritage categories – tangible and intangible. 

Tangible heritage is something real, not imaginary, able to be touched or experienced and mainly physical artefacts from preceding cultures and civilisations – in most cases architectural or art work. In some parts of South Africa tangible heritage is evident in natural geological formation adapted by previous societies.

It can also be stored and physically touched – such items include traditional clothing, utensils, beadwork, water vessels, traditional weapons, homesteads and even graves. 

Taking it further, tangible heritage includes significant mountains, buildings, temples, pyramids and public monuments. 

Living heritage or intangible heritage is neither monumental nor natural but represents part of a nation’s identity – the intangible aspects of inherited culture. It is described as being transmitted from generation to generation and constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their historical conditions of existence. It provides people with a sense of identity and continuity and its safeguarding promotes, sustains and develops cultural diversity and human creativity. 

Intangible heritage exists intellectually in culture and is not a physical or tangible item. It includes oral tradition and expression in different forms.

Zulu people in previous years gathered their children around the fire at night to tell them stories about language, values, history, religion and legends. 

Another intangible heritage example are amahubo– songs sung during ceremonies staged by nations. 

Charms, prayers, chants, songs and music are all part of intangible heritage, with music being common to most cultures during celebrations. Music is also used by people during sad or joyful occasions, such as at weddings, funeral, rituals and initiations. 

Many of the performing arts today are threatened by cultural practices being standardised or abandoned.

Heritage needs protection because it enriches people’s lives, often providing a deep and inspirational sense of connection to community and heritage resources, to the past and to lived experiences. Most important, living heritage represents knowledge and information sustained through memory and transmitted orally or by practice from one generation to the next. This means by its nature it is a fragile resource often vulnerable and susceptible to dissipation if not adequately managed in a way consistent with its cultural value, essence and conservation needs. There is an urgent need to prevent further losses, as heritage is irreplaceable, non-renewable — thus the need to conserve it for posterity is extremely important. 

The question could be asked why resources should be used to preserve the past when they should rather provide for present day needs. Why preserve monuments and sites that often reflect colonial history when we are trying to construct a post-colonial country? Some would perhaps support arguments for a fresh start while others say preserving and remembering the past will help us build a stronger future. 

By protecting heritage sites, we can affirm and celebrate these cultures and their achievements and deepen our understanding of our society. Heritage sites that represent the period of colonialism and apartheid also represent our past and have shaped our identity as well. 

Heritage is part of our identity. 

*Dr Gugu Mazibuko is a cultural expert and Head of African Languages and Linguistics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Photograph: Supplied

*The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of KwaZulu-Natal.