Each September, South Africa turns its attention to the rich cultural tapestry that defines our nation. Heritage Month is a time to honour the traditions, languages, histories, knowledge systems, customs and creative expressions that have been passed from generation to generation, while recognising that our heritage is not confined to the past. It is alive, evolving and continuously shaped by the people and communities who carry it forward.
This year, we commemorated Heritage Month under the theme “Celebrating Our Living Heritage: Strengthening the Ties That Bind Us.” The theme speaks directly to the role heritage plays in bringing people together and strengthening the bonds connecting individuals, families, communities, and generations. We are home to a remarkable diversity of cultures and traditions. Our national identity has been shaped by many histories, languages, belief systems, artistic expressions, and ways of life. This diversity is one of the defining characteristics of our society and provides an important foundation upon which we can build greater understanding, respect, and social cohesion.
Living heritage encompasses the practices and expressions that communities continue to observe, practice, and transmit. It can be found in the languages we speak, the stories we tell, the songs we sing, the dances we perform, the ceremonies we observe, the food we prepare and the knowledge that communities have cultivated and preserved over generations. It is also reflected in indigenous knowledge systems, traditional craftsmanship, oral traditions, rituals, and community practices that continue to give meaning to people's lives.
Unlike heritage that exists only as a historical record or physical artefact, living heritage remains active within communities. It is carried by people and adapted as society changes, allowing traditions to remain meaningful to new generations. This makes living heritage both a connection to our past and an important resource for our future. The celebration of living heritage provides an opportunity to reaffirm values of mutual respect, dignity, equality, solidarity, and social responsibility. It reminds us that while our cultural expressions may differ, our lives are interconnected, and our collective future depends on our ability to live together with respect for one another.
The South African Cultural Observatory recognises the importance of understanding the cultural and creative dimensions of our society and the ways in which culture contributes to social and economic life. Heritage provides an important lens through which we can better understand our communities, our identities and the relationships that shape our nation. By documenting, researching, promoting, and celebrating our diverse cultural practices, we help ensure that the value of heritage remains visible and accessible to present and future generations. Preserving these connections is particularly important in a rapidly changing world. As technology, globalisation and social change transform the way people live and communicate, living heritage provides an enduring connection to identity, place, and community.
Sporting events are more than moments of competition, national pride, and entertainment. They are economic activities that can stimulate tourism, create employment, support local businesses, and generate revenue across multiple sectors of the economy.
Umntwana womgquba a term traditionally used in the Nguni language that means “born out of wedlock,” but nowadays it is used to emphasise that one is born kwisintu. As lontwana, I look back on my own adventures: sometimes I pat myself on the back, and sometimes I wish I could redo them.
My first encounter with heritage at the Mandela Bay Development Agency was, appropriately, somewhat uncomfortable. It began with cleaning. The Gale Monument, the Horse Memorial and the Queen Victoria statue became my first practical introduction to the business of preserving history.
On 7 September 2026, a historic partnership was born which promises to reshape Africa’s creative and research landscape in the sector. Nelson Mandela University (NMU), the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) and the Motion Picture Association (MPA) have joined forces in a first-of-its-kind collaboration across the continent, aimed at tackling the growing challenge of digital piracy and advancing groundbreaking research into Africa’s creative economy.
