Heritage Day 2022

Celebrating unity on Heritage Day

Heritage Day on 24 September recognises and celebrates the cultural wealth of our nation. South Africans celebrate the day by remembering the cultural heritage of the many cultures that make up the population of South Africa. Various events are staged throughout the country to commemorate this day. Living heritage is the foundation of all communities and an essential source of identity and continuity. In South Africa the term “intangible cultural heritage” is used interchangeably with the term “living heritage”.

Living heritage plays an important role in promoting cultural diversity, social cohesion, reconciliation, peace and economic development. The official government definition of “heritage” in Heritage Day includes all that the people inherit, such as culture, history, wildlife, monuments, artwork, literature, music, folklore, languages, culinary traditions and more.

The intention of Heritage Day is for all South Africans to celebrate their heritage and the diversity of their beliefs and traditions. In 2005, a media campaign was launched to rebrand Heritage Day as National Braai Day. The intention was to recognise the South African culinary tradition of holding informal backyard barbecues.

“Within a broader social and political context, the day’s events…are a powerful agent for promulgating a South African identity and fostering reconciliation.”

(Statement issued by the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, 17 September 1996)

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