Heritage Day or Braai Day – that is South Africa’s Burning Question

South African Artist and activist Ntsiki Mazwai has raised a point that many were wondering about – is it right that Heritage Day, a day when we are meant to celebrate the heritage and history of all South Africans, has had its name kind of hijacked by Braai Day?

Ntsiki is known for her outspoken nature. Just a few months ago she wrote an Open Letter (recorded on SoundCloud) to President Jacob Zuma listing her grievances with him from his polygamy to Guptagate and Nkandla.

This time her letter is addressed to white South Africans…and it has resonated with many, while upsetting others.

Here, with Ntsiki’s kind permission, we re-publish her letter:

Dear White South Africans…by Ntsiki Mazwai

Owing to this concept of Braai Day, I am forced to have this honest and somewhat uncomfortable conversation with you. I had hoped that since you have grown white people, they would teach you better…but they have not.

Let’s start at the beginning……my dear white people, you are not descendants of this land called Afrika. Afrika has its own children that it has birthed and nurtures.

It is written in the history books (which your people wrote) that you came from Holland, France, Britain, Spain…..all these are European countries.

The moral of the story is….You are descendants of Europe.

You are the children of Elizabeth, Hitler, Bismarck and others that built their legacy on stealing lands and making people slaves.

Indeed this is not necessarily a history one would be proud of, but it is what it is, and you are now in a position to ‘Do Right.’

There are certain behaviours which provoke the hell out of Africans…..most of these issues are centred around your SELF importance. What is it about you white people that makes you think that your thoughts, ideas and existence is more important than other races?

This confuses me because you did not build your own empires, we built them for you.

You did not raise your own children, we did that for you.

You did not stand up when the injustices of Apartheid were happening, we stood up for ourselves.

The white liberals are now going to be up in arms, but in all honesty, white liberals did not have to carry Dompasses, they could go wherever they pleased and the very same white liberals benefitted from white privilege. So tell me, ‘How do you know someone’s struggle…..when you have never struggled?’ GFOH

You have been on this land for over 500 years and yet have been too damn arrogant to learn the language. In school, you make your children take subjects like French and German….How is French and German going to help you communicate with the majority black people of this land? My people can speak your European language and they don’t even live in Europe….you live in Afrika and you don’t know the language? With all due respect but that is Dumb as F***

When you white people speak to a group of black people why do you speak ‘stupid’ English? That thing where you talk down to black workers makes you look stupid.

I don’t know if it’s ignorance, arrogance or a desire to be asked to go back to your lands which makes you disrespect our Heritage Day by calling it Braai day…but I can promise you that this concept is extremely provocative and may I remind you that you are in the minority.

This racist concept of yours where you want us to erase our heritage will quickly lead to a ‘Zimbabwe’ situation……yes you know that situation where white people got chased off the land? Yes….THAT situation.

Even in your own homes, if a guest had to disrespect how you do things in YOUR own house…you would ask them to leave.

My dear white South Africans, my generation is not the apartheid generation. We do not have a psychological fear of white people. We were born in a time where we CHOSE to forgive you…don’t abuse our humility.

Heritage day is a day where we celebrate the story of South Africa, the story of its people, cultures and traditions. It is a day where we celebrate African kings and queens who have ruled us and have given birth to our nations. It is a day where the African child hears their own story. The other 365 days of the year we are heavily inundated in white culture…24 September is the ONE day where we can be proudly black.

How dare you downgrade a day of African Pride to Beers and a braai…

NISIQHELA KAKUBI…

We get it though…we get why you would rather have a beer and a braai than celebrate the military genius that King Shaka Zulu was…

It’s just that…when in AFRIKA…you do as the AFRIKANS.

Qha ke

Kind Regards

Your rainbow nations counterparts

***

The letter has inevitably been criticised as being racist by many observers, but it could be a mistake to dismiss it in its entirety for that reason…rather than to use it as an opportunity to start a genuine conversation that could lead to a better, more understanding and respectful society in South Africa for everyone.

Ntsiki, who goes by the name Cherie eGrand on Twitter, has tweeted the following messages today: “everybody’s fighting about our differences but we are all the same…ironic” and “wudnt it be nice if the state had programs and messaging everywhere about Equality and Respecting everybody….to at least TRY socialise us”.

This morning she (jokingly) tweeted “I need to report that I am going to Maboneng district, there r white ppl there and I fear for my life” and then a couple of hours later reported back that “Maboneng District 4 lunch and beautiful Azanian people……… Jah Bless SA!”

One of the responses to her Letter that is receiving the most support is from a blogger by the name of Paul who uses the pseudonym Jubalizer.

In a blog post he has written, he argues that Heritage Day is to celebrate what makes us uniquely South African and that while he chooses to braai because that’s how his family has cooked for 200 years, he has no objections to someone else preferring to celebrate in another way.

He points out that King Shaka himself “expanded the Zulu empire in a very similar fashion to that of the Europeans in Africa”, just on a smaller scale (and adds “my point is we are really not so different and I do have respect for King Shaka as he is part of my own South African identity”).

Paul writes “rather than castigate white people, Heritage Day should be an opportunity for the sharing of cultures. We should not be separated with white people braaing and black people celebrating the Kings and Queens from the past as you put it. Your message offers no constructive criticisms or anything. You make me feel that because my heritage is different to yours that I am incorrect. That is incorrect and unfair.

“Rather than point fingers we should be moving towards a society where views such as these are expressed without so much underlying resentment. By pointing the finger at white people for calling it ‘Braai Day’ you insult them because you are targeting their heritage. Trust me, when you insult somebody’s culture that will never go down well.

“If I was invited somewhere where I could learn more about the heritage of other South Africans on such a day I would accept. And when I arrived I would bring some wors with me and share it.”

He contends that “Heritage Day should be a day where South Africans can express what makes themselves South African. That is how we celebrate our diversity. That is what the Rainbow Nation is.

“Heritage Day is not about race, it is about culture. I have the right do to what I like on such a day and you have no right to criticize me for it. All I can offer is dialogue so that one day we can achieve a more encompassing paradigm of Heritage Day so that you no longer feel the way you do. I too believe that we should celebrate what makes us African, but what makes us African is far larger than what you have covered in your message.”

Perhaps Ntsiki’s message was the same – she has created an opportunity for an important dialogue and is also saying that what makes us African is far larger than just a braai…no matter how lekker that braai is! Her point is not that we should stop enjoying a braai…but that 24 September should be called Heritage Day, and not be named after a tradition that represents only one fraction of our country’s rich, diverse culture.