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01 September 2026
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Story Tshepo Tsotetsi
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Photo Supplied
The University of the Free State celebrates Heritage Month by recognising the cultures, languages, traditions, and stories that shape our communities.
The University of the Free State joins millions of South Africans in celebrating Heritage Month, a time when the country turns its attention to the cultures, languages, traditions, and stories that make up who we are. From the food we share and the music we listen to, to the languages we speak, traditions we practise, and stories passed down from one generation to the next, heritage is part of how we understand where we come from and what connects us.
In a country as diverse as South Africa, heritage gives us an opportunity to appreciate the different cultures and histories that exist alongside one another. It allows us to celebrate what makes our communities distinct, while also finding the common ground that brings us together. Just as importantly, it gives us an opportunity to consider what we want to carry forward and what we want to change as society continues to evolve.
This year, the university marks Heritage Month under the theme Honour our heritage. Shape our future, a theme that connects what we inherit with the choices we make about what comes next. As Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Hester C. Klopper, puts it: “Our history matters. So does what we do with it.” For a diverse university community, this means recognising that the cultures, experiences, and perspectives brought by our students and staff are not separate from university life. They are part of what gives the university its character.
Bringing heritage into what we do
That diversity can be seen across the university in the languages spoken, the cultural traditions shared, and the different perspectives that students and staff bring with them. It includes South African communities with their distinct histories and traditions, as well as international students and staff who bring their own cultures and experiences into the university community. Together, these different voices contribute to the character of the institution.
This is also reflected in the work that takes place across the university. Teaching and research create opportunities to engage with different forms of knowledge, while student life, arts and culture, community engagement, and international partnerships create spaces for people to share and experience different cultures. In this way, heritage is not only something we celebrate. It becomes part of how we learn from one another and how we understand the society around us.
This, in turn, gives meaning to the second part of this year’s theme: shaping the future. The heritage we inherit does not have to remain unchanged. We can question it, learn from it, and build on it. As Prof Klopper notes, “Remembering our heritage is therefore not an act of nostalgia; it is how we stay accountable to the communities we serve.”
For the university, this responsibility is particularly important as an African university committed to contributing to responsible societal futures. What we choose to recognise, preserve, and pass on today will influence the university and the communities it serves in the years to come.
To celebrate Heritage Month, the University of the Free State will host a series of activities across its campuses, with the International Cultural Diversity Festival (ICDF) serving as the flagship event. The programme is presented by the Directorate for International Partnerships and Relations, in collaboration with the Unit for Institutional Change and Social Justice, the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies, and the Division of Student Affairs, Sports, Arts and Culture.
Qwaqwa Campus:
Heritage Day Public Lecture
Prof Motlalepula Matsabisa, Director of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Lead Programme in the Department of Pharmacology, will present a lecture, titled Science in Conversation with Itself: Reclaiming Indigenous Knowledge from Indigenous Knowledge as Heritage and Healing.
Date: 21 September 2026
Time: 12:00 to 14:00
Venue: E0014
South Campus:
Intercultural Dialogue
More Than a Seat at the Table: Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging on Campus
Date: 22 September 2026
Time: 12:00 to 14:00
Venue: Madiba Arena
Bloemfontein Campus:
International Cultural Diversity Festival
Date: 23 September 2026
Time: 12:00 to 00:00
Venue: Outside the Centenary Complex
Tickets are free and limited to 2 000. Get your festival ticket here.