Several activities by radio stations 5FM, Radio 2000, Phalaphala FM, Ukhozi FM, Munghana Lonene FM, Lotus FM, trufm, and RSG have been lined up by the SABC to celebrate Heritage Month this September.

The Hamman Time Heritage Tour

5FM's Nick Hamman of Hamman Time (Mondays to Fridays from 09:00 to noon) will take listeners on a South African journey as he visits all nine provinces, which started on Friday, 1 September.

The show will take its listeners on a month-long excursion as Nick Hamman and producer Mike Bossenger (Mad Money Mike) travel through the nine provinces, spending at least two days in each, as they learn more about the heritage in the cities and small towns.

Hamman Time will broadcast live every day of the tour and encourage listeners to promote their province by engaging with the show and sharing their stories. The tour takes a look at the culture and history South Africa has to offer. In conjunction with the live broadcasts, listeners can follow the tour on the station’s various social media platforms for interviews, videos, and images.

The Hamman Time Heritage Tour will move on to Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Free State, Eastern Cape, and Northern Cape before reaching the Western Cape just before Heritage Day. 

Radio 2000 event

Radio 2000 will host an African Heritage Day event at the SABC offices in Auckland Park on Thursday, 21 September from 09:00 to 15:00. The station has invited representatives from 27 African State Embassies to exhibit their African cultural heritage.

Traditional dance competitions

Phalaphala FM, in partnership with the Radzambo Cultural Foundation, will be hosting a Phalaphala FM traditional dance competition. The traditional dance and music will feature the following categories; Tshikona, Malende, Tshigombela, Visa, Kiba, Makgakgasi, Xigubu, Muchongolo, and Xibelani – covering the entire Vhembe District Municipality.

The finals are preceded by the eliminations that are being held around the district a month prior September, with the finals being held during Heritage Month. Traditional dance competition finals will be held on Saturday, 30 September, at Rabali Stadium in Nzhelele within the Makhado Local Municipality.

Ukhozi FM will celebrate Heritage Month by partaking in two annual events that are a part of the Zulu nation cultural heritage celebrations. Umkhosi woMhlanga (Reed Dance) is an annual Zulu ceremony that has become popular on the cultural tourism calendar and takes place at Enyokeni Royal Residence in Nongoma.

The celebration of King Shaka

Umkhosi weLembe celebrates the life and reign of Shaka kaSenzangakhona. The year 2016 marked 200 years since King Shaka founded the Zulu kingdom and 45 years since King Goodwill Zwelithini, reigning King of the Zulu nation, ascended to the throne. The celebration will take place in kwaDukuza on the North Coast, where King Shaka was buried in 1828 at the age of 41.

Spring shutdown

Munghana Lonene FM is planning a spring shutdown to celebrate Heritage Month. The shutdown will be hosted at The Rest Lodge in Malamulele from Friday, 8 September to Sunday, 10 September. Two shows will broadcast from the lodge on Friday, followed by DJ’s mixes from 19:00 until late.

On Saturday, 9 September the station will host Xiseveseve and Makhwaya groups, as well as local artists performances, with a live recording of the station’s soapy Mina Hi Mina during performance breaks. The weekend will close with a live jazz session, which will have a bring and braai on Sunday, 10 September.

Other activities planned by Munghana Lonene FM are as follows:  
  • Shiviti Traditional Authority for Thomo Heritage and Culture Day on Friday, 22 September;
  • Homu Traditional Council for Homu Heritage and Culture Day, date TBC;
  • Mnisi Traditional Council for Mnisi Heritage and Culture celebration, date TBC; and
  • Nghunghunyani Day, date TBC.

Listener and key stakeholder participation

Lotus FM is planning to host its listeners and key stakeholders as part of Heritage Month. The event will celebrate the various cultures that South Africa is home to. All guests will dress in their cultural attire and will have the option of indulging in traditional meals. Lotus FM OAP’s and key members of management will be in attendance to interact with guests. The event will also have key note speakers to address both attendees, and the listeners, tuning into the station.

A tribute to Steve Biko

trufm, in partnership with the Steve Biko Centre, based in Ginsberg, Eastern Cape, will be celebrating Heritage Month and commemorating the 40 year anniversary of Steve Biko’s passing. The Heritage Day celebrations will include dialogues, fashion, and a traditional culinary experience while the Steve Biko anniversary will include a lecture. Both celebrations and commemorations will be hosted at the Steve Biko Centre.

Heritage and tourism

RSG will cover a variety of topics, snippets, and promotions that focus on heritage and tourism during the month of September. An emphasis is placed on farming and sustainable food production, in partnership with Syngenta, with daily crossings for discussions about farming technology. Various archive material will be packaged and broadcasted in celebration of Afrikaans historical heritage as well 80 years of Afrikaans radio, in line with the stations birthday.

For more information, visit www.sabc.co.za. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter by using the #LiveYourHeritage hashtag.