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24 September 2008

Programme Director
MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture
Honourable Executive Mayor of Vhembe District and other Mayors
Mayor of Musina Local Municipality, Councillors Caroline Mahasela
MPs and MPLs
Traditional leaders here present,
Councillors
CEO of the National Heritage Council Advocate Sonwabile Mancotywa
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

Theme for Heritage Month 2008: "celebrate our dance, celebrate our heritage."

This year's heritage month takes place amidst news of the departure of our President Thabo Mbeki from the position of President. Although this was not foreseen by many of our people, we are happy this was done within the prescripts of our constitution and the framework of the law. This has once again proved the strength of our constitutional democracy and the maturity of our people in the face of difficult challenges.

We wish to thank President Mbeki for the role he had played in the building our country and the African continent. Through his leadership, our country has seen a lot of achievements in many fronts. Not least important amongst his achievement include the recent agreement in Zimbabwe, which we hope will facilitate a smooth transition towards democracy in that country. South Africans and Africans will forever remain indebted to President Mbeki's leadership for the renaissance that our continent is undergoing through.

Programme director

The month of September of every year, is heritage month in South Africa. This is the time when we remind ourselves of the very things which make us the people we are. Heritage day is the day on which we celebrate the rich and diverse cultural traditions and heritage that have been passed down to us by our ancestors.
It is during a month such as these when we value the symbols and the historic landmarks which define who we are. Heritage month serves to remind us of the importance of our past as well as our present. This is probably the only month on our calendar, when we officially remember the lost civilisations, the traditions and mannerisms which brought us to the point we are.

We should never allow heritage day to become only relevant to the historians, archaeologists and anthropologists. Neither should we allow heritage day to be remembered only by our older generation because to do that, will be to deny the youth of our country their past, as well as their present. Once again, the Limpopo provincial government is proud to host this important occasion together with the leadership of the National Heritage Council.

We are pleased to be joined by the many cultural groups from far and near, who are here to make this day even more special. Present amongst us here are musicians, traditional healers, story tellers, poets and even dancers. Therefore, unlike most national days, we should try not to make this day a day of long-winded speeches, but rather a day in which we enjoy the best from our roots, in the form of song and traditional dance.

Programme director

You will recall that last year we celebrated the role which poets play in our society, and this year in particular, our government chose to celebrate "The importance of dance in our heritage". The choice of this theme came after we realised the importance and centrality of dance in the preservation of our history, culture and traditions. You will recall that, from time immemorial our people often used the medium of dance as a form of expressing their emotions and social wellbeing.

It was through dance that they conveyed their dissatisfaction to the authorities, as well as their appreciation. Africans are known to dance when they are happy and also when they are sad. We dance when we are agitated and when we are want to fight. The toyi-toyi dance in particular, could probably be regarded as one distinguishing feature of our cultural heritage as a people and as a country. South Africans are also known to dance when they celebrate national victories and when we mourn. We dance during weddings and also when we bury our loved ones.

We dance when we win awards and also when we bid farewell to the ones that we love. In other words, there is never an occasion which does not call for a dance or artistic movement at any given time. We always find that it is often the beauty of the drum beat and the melodious sounds of African music which make all of us want to tap our feet.

Of course one of the things we also celebrate this year include the beautiful heritage sites we have in the province such as Tshate, Dzata, Thulamela, Baleni-Soutini, Malebogo battlefields and the world recognised Mapungubwe Heritage site, which is not very far from where we are. Elsewhere in Africa, there are other places we should also celebrate such as the Great Zimbabwe ruins in Masvingo, the Egyptian pyramids and great city of Timbuktu, which became an important centre of commerce and scholarship, in as early as the sixteenth century. Reputedly this is where the first university in the world was founded.

Amongst other things, this year's Heritage day also focuses on the celebration of Limpopo's warrior kings who fought fearlessly to restore dignity and self worth to our people. This includes leaders such as: Makhado, Sekhukhune, Nghunghunyane, Malebogo, Mokopane and Makgoba. As you will recall, these are leaders whom the provincial government has already honoured through the erection of statues which are found in the town of Makhado, Tshate in Sekhukhune, Giyani and Ga-Malebogo.

One of the highlights of this year's heritage day is that we shall also be bestowing honour and dignity to one of the respected citizens of the world who has made humanity proud. The Limpopo provincial government and the people of our province are delighted to hear that the National Heritage Council has decided to honour comrade Fidel Castro with the 2008 Ubuntu Awards. No better human being has demonstrated Ubuntu to the level and degree, which comrade Fidel Castro has.

South Africans will forever remain indebted to the role which Castro and the Republic of Cuba played during our fight against colonialism and apartheid. He joins the list of other deserving members of this award such as our former President Nelson Mandela and former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda.

A special occasion for this has been called tonight at Mapungubwe Heritage site, wherein we shall formally hand over this award to his representative and the people of Cuba.

Once again we pay our gratitude to the people of Cuba for their tenacity and friendship during the one of the most difficult period in our struggle.

I wish the urge all of us, especially the young, to emulate their good example through the practice of Ubuntu.

Let the beat goes on!

I thank you.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Limpopo Provincial Government
24 September 2008