Each year on September 24, South Africa celebrates Heritage Day. A day where South Africa’s multidimensional cultures and traditions are embraced and celebrated through art, food, dance, song, attire, literature and experience.
I believe it goes without saying that we as South Africans need to acknowledge the current point that we’re at nationally. We are currently engaged in a paradigm shift that has us posing a number of questions in relation to our nation identity, who we are as South Africans and what that means. One would argue that we are experiencing a bit of an identity crisis.
This is nothing to frown upon or be disheartened by. In my opinion I believe we are in the best position as South Africans to shape our story. Given our deeply rooted colonial history it is a fine opportunity to engage in a process of inquiry and introspection, to dig deep and find out who we are as a multidimensional, multicultural and multifaceted population. To analyze all the wonderful elements that make us different, celebrate them and draw meaning from them.
I was particularly drawn to the art work at the gallery on 8 Auret Street in Maboneng. As a nation it is an undeniable fact that we have been indoctrinated into a Western ideological way of thinking, behaving and living. There are opinions on this topic as sparse as there are stars in the night sky, however what I find most interesting is regardless of the western beliefs, values and norms etched into our minds and into the very fibres of our being… The power of art shines through.
The incredible minds of the artists whose mental imagery of our indigenous cultures spill over onto blank canvases to recreate visual traces of our core history as Africans within a Western colony, it became an amazing sight to witness and a close reminder of our roots, which so closely defines what we have come to acknowledge…
…as our South African Heritage
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