Heritage Day is a South African public holiday celebrated on 24 September. On this day, South Africans are encouraged to celebrate their culture and the diversity of their beliefs and traditions, in the wider context of a nation that belongs to all its people and includes the whole nation.

To celebrate and embrace the various cultures and heritage that exist in South Africa, the second-year IsiZulu students from the Durban University of Technology’s Indumiso Campus held a Traditional IsiZulu Heritage Day event, which forms part of their project for, Communication in Isizulu at the Indumiso Sports Centre in Pietermaritzburg, yesterday, 19 September 2018.

DUT students and staff as well as celebrity guests, Ngizwe Mchunu and Bahube were invited to watch the DUT students showcase their talent with umculo (music), ingoma (music with a combination of traditional dancing), izinkondlo (poetry) and performances of the traditional marriage ceremony amongst others.

Speaking during the event, DUT’s Dr Gladstone Zulu said the event was also a creative expression of their heritage through music and performances, language, and the food we eat. Students also slaughtered a cow for the event.

“The event began in 2014, and each year the level and standard of how the event is done has risen. Students are doing different items of songs, dances, plays and poetry. The aim of the event is to let our students recognise the value of our culture, and in their module, we focus on isiZulu culture. However, even though most students are isiZulu speaking students, there are also dances to showcase students in isiXhosa, isiSwati, isiNdebele and seSotho. There’s a wide variety of cultures but it is about diversity recognition,” he said.

The highlight of the event was the traditional wedding ceremony portrayed in isiZulu (Umshado) and Umgido (where the young maidens adorning beautiful traditional skirts, strewn with colourful beads, are proud to show-off their bodies, a ceremony embarked by virgins only, which culturally is a matter of pride.

Another exciting part of the day was the Umabo, an important ritual which brings together families where in the process the bride is also told what is expected of her, from her family and her in-laws. This tradition is the way that ancestors (Amadlozi) recognise the bride; it is believed that they bring good luck. It is also a gorgeous tradition where people showcase their traditional clothing, sing and dance. It brings together different elements of the Zulu culture.

DUT student Andiswa Mzimba a second year B.Ed student at DUT Midlands, who were part of the show, thoroughly enjoyed being part of the event, saying the youth has to know their roots and such an opportunity to showcase their background and cultures, was great. They were also honoured to be given such a platform to do so.

Siphesihle Mthethwa a final year B.Ed student also from the DUT Midlands campus was very excited to support his friends who were part of the Heritage event. “The team did very well and managed to get two celebrities and they did an impressive job. For me, personally, I feel it is important because one must know their roots and where one comes from,” he said.

Acting Midlands Director Dr Reginald Thabede, said: “The Durban University of Technology Midlands Campus is honoured to have Dr Gladstone Zulu in the faculty of Education. His pedagogical approach to communication in isiZulu was quite impressive. He skilfully weaved the class project into the Heritage event function. Our students who participated in the event demonstrated their superior understanding of what they have learned through the series of acts they performed under the theme ‘Umshado’. I was personally moved by the performance of our students in their practical display of what was theoretical imparted to them. It would be great value to the entire Institution if the this event could be jointly celebrated by both Durban and Midlands campuses.”

Pictured: Acting Midlands Director Dr Reginald Thabede and Dr Gladstone Zulu with the DUT students at the Heritage event.

Waheeda Peters