PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has described Heritage Day as an opportunity for South Africans to wear attires that are unique to cultures, to invite friends and family over for a home-cooked traditional meal, to play traditional music, and to pay tribute to those who came before us.
Ramaphosa said this during the celebration of Heritage Day at the Union Buildings ground in Tshwane on Saturday, 24 September with people of different cultures.
He said no matter their race, ethnicity, language or religion, there’s no right or wrong way to observe Heritage Day.
Ramaphosa said that this year they were using Heritage month to celebrate South African indigenous music and in particular the legacy of Solomon Popoli Linda.
“We chose this theme to acknowledge the role that indigenous music, especially scathamiya, played in the lives of our people during the dark days of colonialism and apartheid,” he said.
He said that in the township community halls, the marketplaces, the beer halls and the open fields where groups such as the Evening Birds led by Solomon Linda performed classics like iMbube, where important political conversations about the state of country took place.
“Because of its ability to bring people together, unite them and encourage discussion, indigenous music helped shape our present reality of a free and democratic society.
“The tragedy that befell Solomon Linda, the great injustice that was done to him, must never again visit any of our artists,” he said.
Ramaphosa said under British colony, difficult circumstances made him sell the rights to the song to a record company.
“It’s said it was sold for a mere 10 shillings and in today’s currency that is less than US$1. It was a robbery.
He said Linda died impoverished in 1962 in Soweto, Gauteng.
“This is why we are redoubling our efforts to preserve our heritage and protect our artists,” he said.
Ramaphosa also said that in honour of Linda and his legacy, they must ensure that artists didn’t suffer in their lifetime and were not condemned to dying in poverty.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura said that the Gauteng Heritage Carnival started in 2004, grew to 40 000 people in 2018.
“As we gather here, the carnival is on, thousands of people are parading the streets of our Capital City in their diverse traditional attires and outfits, singing and dancing to their folklore and traditional music. They are from different parts of our country, our continent and the world. We are the world in one,” said Makhura.
Grace Moroe, who celebrated Heritage Day at the Union Buildings, said: “Our culture is very important, especially to our young people.”
Moroe was representing Khensani Primary School in Soshanguve. Joyce Mafumo of Dikakapa from Ladium said: “This is a beautiful day, and we are happy to share our cultures together.”
