SOUTH Africa is celebrating Heritage Day today, and people from many different cultures will dress up in their traditional clothes.
Busisiwe Hlongwane (54) from Alexandra, east of Joburg, is the leader of the Isigqi Sezintombi cultural group, which encourages virginity among young girls.
She said they have been helping girls to stay virgins since 2010. They visit schools to get teachers to help boys and girls know where they come from.
“Most of the young generation born in the cities don’t know their culture,”
“They don’t go to villages, where elders can share deep knowledge with them about where they belong.”
She said young people are always glued to their TVs and listening to the radio about other cultures, forgetting where they are from.
“I go to schools and orphanages, where I teach children the importance of preserving their culture.”
She said with young people being exposed to western cultures, cultural values are fading among young people.
Cultural expert Refiloe wa gaKhunou said everyone has their own roots.
“As Africans, we should not lose our identity. It’s a bond with our ancestors. If we’re not active in reviving our African culture, we won’t know our origins.”
He said people are identified by their language, dress, food and behaviour.
Good Samaritan Linda Twala said: “I have music groups, where children are taught to play drums, sing traditional songs and traditional activities.”
Twala said the beauty of Africa lies in its people embracing their culture.
