Carrying our heritage forward: Lessons, stories, and pride

As Heritage Month comes to a close, it’s a moment to pause and reflect on the threads that weave our nation together.

This month, we celebrated the richness of our stories, our resilience, and the diversity that defines South Africa. From languages and music to food, traditions, and everyday acts of community, Heritage Month reminded us that our heritage is alive, not just in history books, but in the people we meet, the conversations we share, and the pride we carry in our roots.

As we move forward, let us keep these stories alive, not just for a month, but every day. Let the lessons of the past inspire us, the beauty of our diversity unite us, and the spirit of our heritage guide us toward a future we can all celebrate.

Heritage is not a day or a month on the calendar, it’s the heartbeat of our nation, present in the kindness we show, the respect we give, and the communities we nurture. It lives in the laughter around a family table, the songs that echo across generations, and the recipes passed down with love. These everyday moments carry the wisdom of our ancestors, reminding us of where we come from and what we carry forward.

As we close this chapter, may we carry the pride of our past and the promise of our future with us, ensuring that the story of South Africa continues to be one of unity, courage, and hope.

And as we say goodbye to this Heritage Month, we do so in all our languages:

• English - Goodbye
• ByeisiZulu - Hamba kahle / Sala kahleisi
• Xhosa- Hamba kakuhle / Sala kakuhlesi
• Swati - Hamba kahle / Sala kahleisi
• Ndebele - Hamba kahle / Sala kahle
• Sepedi - Tsamaya gabotse / Sala gabotse
• Sesotho - Tsamaya hantle / Sala hantle
• Setswana - Tsamaya sentle / Sala sentle
• Xitsonga - Famba kahle / Sala kahle
• Tshivenda - Fhambani zwavhudi / Salani zwavhudi
• South African Sign Language - wave of the hand

May these words remind us that, across every language and culture, it is our shared heritage that unites us, carries our stories forward, and shapes the South Africa we continue to build together.

IOL