Every year, South Africa marks September as Heritage Month, a time to honour the many cultures, traditions, and histories that shape who we are as a nation. It is a reminder that while our heritage is rooted in the past, it lives in the present and continues to guide our future. 

From music, food, and language to rituals, values, and everyday practices, heritage is the thread that weaves together our shared identity while celebrating the beauty of difference.

Heritage Month asks us to pause and reflect: What does culture mean in a country as diverse as ours? In South Africa, culture is not only expressed through colourful clothing, traditional cuisine, and indigenous art forms – it also lives in our languages, our belief systems, and in the values we pass from one generation to the next. It is through culture that gulfs of difference are bridged, allowing us to see one another not as strangers but as co-creators of a shared society.

The meaning of Heritage Month takes on a unique significance in the higher education ecosystem. Universities are microcosms of the broader world, bringing together people from different provinces, countries, and continents. At the University of the Free State (UFS), staff and students represent an extraordinary diversity of cultures – South African traditions blending with those from across Africa and beyond. 

This richness is not only a reflection of who we are, but also a resource that strengthens knowledge production, deepens social interaction, and fosters a sense of belonging.

Cultural sensitivity and global connections

“Heritage Month is about affirming inclusivity,” says Dimakatso Mokaqoatsa from UFS’s Unit for Institutional Change and Social Justice. “It is recognising the richness of diversity as something that strengthens academic life, builds social cohesion, and creates a sense of belonging for everyone.”

Mokaqoatsa explains that cultural sensitivity is essential for meaningful celebration. “When people are encouraged to share and learn from one another’s traditions, heritage becomes a point of connection rather than difference,” she says. “It is not about showcasing culture as an event, but about creating spaces where everyone feels seen, respected, and part of the community.”

This approach links closely to the idea of living heritage, which speaks to practices and values that continue to evolve in daily life. 

When staff and students share their traditions, they create spaces where gulfs of misunderstanding are replaced by respect and genuine curiosity. “Sharing and learning from one another’s traditions helps cultivate a university culture where everyone feels seen, valued, and connected,” Mokaqoatsa adds. “With this, barriers are broken down, stereotypes are challenged, and the campus becomes a space where differences are celebrated.”

Zikhali adds that engaging with diverse traditions has long-term value for students. “It helps them understand the world they live in. Here at the institution and beyond, they become more culturally aware and prepared to navigate differences wherever they go.”

For UFS, Heritage Month is a reminder that culture is not confined to one month of the year. It is lived daily in the classrooms, residences, and social spaces of the university. Initiatives such as intercultural dialogues, exhibitions, and academic engagements help keep heritage alive beyond September.

This reflects the university’s value of care, which emphasises respect, inclusivity, and empathy in building a community where everyone feels they belong. Equally, it resonates with the value of social justice, reminding us of the responsibility to reduce inequality and create spaces of dignity where all traditions are honoured.

By embedding these principles into campus life, the university continues to foster a climate where every tradition can find its place not just in September, but every day of the year.

Heritage Month Calendar

Mx and Mxss UFS Institutional Grand Finale

The Office of Arts and Culture in the Division of Student Affairs will be hosting the annual Mx and Mxss UFS Institutional Grand Finale under the theme ‘Crowned in Culture, Echoing Excellence.’ 

Venue: Kopanong Auditorium, Bloemfontein Campus.

Faculty of Law Heritage Celebration: 80 Years of Excellence, One Day of Heritage

The Faculty of Law invites staff and students to celebrate South Africa’s colourful heritage while marking 80 years of legal excellence at UFS. The celebration will include fun activities and a best-dressed competition.

Dress code: Traditional attire or heritage colours encouraged. Best dressed wins a prize.

International Cultural Festival

The Office for International Affairs, in collaboration with the Division of Student Affairs, the SRC Arts and Culture Council portfolio, and the Unit for Institutional Change and Social Justice, will host the annual International Cultural Diversity Festival.