Page 12 - The Villager September 2021

Lifestyle

Celebrating our Heritage

BY JOSH TRUTeR
Heritage Day coming
up on 24 September
is a day that celebrates

South Africa’s roots, and
the rich, vibrant and
diverse cultures that
make up our Rainbow

Nation.

o matter where in the world
one goes, the locals in each
Ncountry will be able to
recount tales of suffering and conflict.
There will also be stories of people
who have overcome impossible odds
to become beacons of hope and Americans), Russia, and Australia. The Of course, celebrating our South
inspiration to the masses. British were supported by soldiers African heritage goes beyond one war
Our democracy in the bigger scheme from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or even a few individuals – it’s about all
of world events is still young and there India, individual mercenaries from the the people who make up our Rainbow
are plenty of growing pains – and US, and Italy. Both sides used local Nation – although, as we can see, many
most likely there will be many more. tribesmen to assist with tending the of us can claim links to a variety of the
We are lucky, though, that we are horses, setting up the camps, carrying nationalities that participated way
able to applaud the achievements of ammunition, and sometimes even back then.
numerous South Africans who have engaging in the fighting. One of the best ways to appreciate
risen up and tackled some of our trials • Winston Churchill was captured just the melting pot of cultures in South
and tribulations head on. two weeks after his arrival as war Africa is by exploring the different
We have also had the benefit of correspondent for the Morning Post. types of cuisine on offer. Think of
support from many countries and He managed to escape and made his Portuguese peri-peri chicken, Italian
communities from around the world way to Mozambique. He then signed pizza, German sausages, an English
and, in celebrating our South African up as a lieutenant in the British army breakfast, Dutch Milk Tart, Indian
heritage, perhaps this is a good and was witness to the occupation of curry, Greek meze, French croissants,
opportunity to take a look at some Pretoria by the British Forces. Cape Malay bobotie, along with the
of the nationalities that played a • Mahatma Gandhi formed the Natal pap, samp and beans, morogo, walkie
significant role in one of those defining Indian Ambulance Corps that talkies, amasi and sorghum beer
‘moments’ at the turn of last century. consisted of 300 Indian settlers and enjoyed by our local tribes, and you
800 indentured Indian labourers. They can see that our influences are many
DID YOU KNOW? supported the British and served as and widespread. Add to these, biltong,
• During the Second Anglo Boer War stretcher bearers and assisted with droëwors, boerewors, potjiekos, bunny
(October 1899 – May 1902), the transporting the wounded soldiers chows, chakalaka, smoorsnoek and
Boers were supported by volunteer that needed medical care. When bokkoms, followed by koeksusters and
soldiers from the Netherlands, France, Gandhi came to South Africa, his rooibos tea – or Springbok shooters,
Germany, Belgium, Scandinavia, intention was to stay just one year. He Amarula Dom Pedro, local craft beers
Finland, Poland, Hungary, Greece, ended up staying for 21 years before and possibly even Mampoer, and you
Italy, Ireland, the US (Irish and Dutch heading back to India. know you’re in South Africa!!

10 • Issue 9 2021 • The Villager