September 26, 2005
By Rose Setshoge
BAREFOOTED, traditional dancers energetically stomping across the stage to the echoing rhythms of the drums left the happy crowd at Mary Fitzgerald Square, Newtown, screaming for more.
The dancers were part of Heritage Day celebrations on Saturday, 24 September, in downtown Jozi.
This year, the Heritage Day theme was Living Heritage. As part of the celebrations, a plaque was unveiled in honour of trade union firebrand Mary Fitzgerald, after whom the square was named.
Alexandra dance group Bana ba Mmakgopa in action
Mary Fitzgerald Square, opened in 2001 by President Thabo Mbeki, has became a centre for cultural, tourist and business activities.
The ceremony, attended by Johannesburg Executive Mayor Amos Masondo and Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa, was organised by the province and the City. Among the guests of honour were members of the Fitzgerald family.
Shilowa said, "Gauteng, being the melting pot of different people of different nationalities, ethnicity and culture, needs to be at the forefront of the celebration of our unity on the one hand, and the diversity of our multicultural heritage."
On stage, young and old, in their brightly coloured clothes, performed traditional dances; in the audience older folk remembered the good old days when they could still get down and jive.
"We are happy to be part of the event because people will get to see our definition of traditional dancing," said Sarah Mmakgopa, the group leader of Bana ba Mmakgopa from Alexandra, one of the troupes that performed.
The kwela and twist, performed by the Rainbow Theatre Community Group, brought back memories of Sophiatown, the suburb that symbolised the city's melding of many cultures and which was destroyed by apartheid's forced removals.
Throughout the day, heritage exhibits, food and craft stalls, local heritage trails and dance and music were on display.
Shilowa told the crowd that every year, on this day, heritage institutions around Gauteng would be open for free as part of the celebrations. These institutions would educate residents and visitors about South Africa's cultures and traditions.
These included MuseuMAfricA, the Fietas Heritage Trail in Newtown, Constitution Hill in Braamfontein, Melville Koppies in Emmarentia, Keditselana Tourism and Cultural Village in Katlehong, Museum of Military History in Saxonwold and National Railway and Steam Museum in Krugersdorp.
At the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens in Roodepoort, students will get free access on Heritage Day, while the Apartheid Museum and Hector Peterson Memorial will have reduced rates.
"September is also Tourism Month," Shilowa said. "We need to look at how we can have a joint tourism and heritage focus, since they are complementary rather than competing activities."
The premier also identified the challenges the province faced, including the promotion of different languages and culture, and stamping out racism and xenophobia.
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