In recognition of their rich African heritage, NEPAD and  APRM staff  got together to showcase cultural diversity, language, history, beliefs and traditions - to promote internal cohesion and cross-cultural unity. 

The occasion was in celebration of National Heritage Day, which is marked every September 24, in South Africa. On this day families, friends and strangers across the country unite at events aimed at building bridges to overcome South Africa’s painful past. They roast and share meat and other foodstuff, sing, as well as perform traditional dances.

Staff members talked about their history, their marriage customs, funeral ceremonies, dance and dress. Gengezi Mgidlana, Special Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer, said that the common thread among Africans is our culture and our dignity. “Today is not just about celebrating our culture but it’s about celebrating our unity and the restoration of our identity as Africans.”  He said.

Staff dressed in different attire from Kenya, Malawi, Cameroon, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda, among others. The occasion offered an opportunity to learn more about how various Africans greet, mourn, host their guests, the kind of food they eat, as well as history lessons and traditional beliefs.

Professor Mboya giving background on South Africa’s Heritage Day

Professor Mzobanzi Mboya, head of Education at NEPAD read an extract from the book “Culture and self - From an African Perspective” by Author, Mr Ali Mazrui and emphasised that Heritage Day is about celebrating who we are as Africans, where we come from and the future we want to build.

Professor Kiamba,  Senior Technical Adviser on Home-grown school feeding programme shared five interesting facts about marriages in Kenya… on courtship, marriage values, wife inheritance, romance and divorce.

Above…Kitemano Mbilinyi, explaining the many uses of the traditional Khanga cloth in Tanzania. Khanga is a colorful garment used as a wrap, scarf, baby sling, duster, curtain and many more purposes.

Abraham Sarfo

Speaking about the Ashanti kingdom, Abraham Sarfo explained funeral ceremonies in the Ashanti Kingdom and that Ashanti is a Matriarch culture. “Funerals are so important and big the Ashanti people that it is said that families love the dead more than living.”

Unami Mpofu on the ‘great house of stone’, Zimbabwe. Staff learned that Zimbabwe was actually created 500 years before Christ and has a rich history.

Patrick Mbaijana on the Batooro culture of Uganda

Lucky winners of best African dress: Nomawethu Msezana, Professor Hamidou Boly and Rose Ngenue

The presentations were followed by an African lunch and South African Braai outside the APRM car park. Staff brought a dish of food from their region or country, to share with colleagues.

Jollof rice, chobi, boiled bananas, yam, Maotwana, puff puff – our taste buds also travelled the continent

Rich Africa beauty! 

 APRM staff braaing

Sharing happy times

Lunch the traditional African way

Millicent, Benita and Linda… the communications team which put it all together!