On Heritage Day, many South African families gather around braais to celebrate their heritage and unique place in the colourful mosaic that is our country. A rainbow of diversity illustrates the many individuals who add to this generational masterpiece. A masterpiece I have a claim to through my inheritance.

To me, my family history has always resembled a complex patchwork tapestry, one connecting decades of struggle, strength, and solidarity. Each scrap of fabric represents a family member’s origin and influence, spanning from Mitchell’s Plain to Wynberg, Cape Town to Durban.

It is an array of different layers of cloth stitched together so that I may be inspired by it. The layers that my parents, their parents, and the numerous people who came before me laboured arduously to weave together with blood, sweat and dedication. Every memory of his school days that my father shares with me, the words of wisdom about feelings of gratitude my grandma imparts to me, and intense discussions about advocacy and justice with my mother all deepen my understanding of coloured identity.

Culture cannot be solely determined by race in a nation with a past interwoven with segregation. However, it is how we have managed to honour the diversity in our nation, despite the rips in the tapestry. Members of my family in Kwazulu-Natal often share descriptions of those who gather in front of the Shaka memorial commemorating the Zulu King. On Heritage Day, or as they call it, Shaka Day, they commemorate the hero who helped unite the clans to form a great nation.

There are many heroes who have stood at the forefront of the battle for harmony and equality in our nation. But in our homes on this special day, it may be worth noting that these brave leaders stood not to strip away colour for a monochromatic painting, but spoke loudly into the distance calling for a multitextured avant garde (modern and experimental) masterpiece. For many, the notion of black and white may still ring true in certain social circles and spaces we inhabit. But the youth of today may argue that there is a divide among colours due to culture and class.

Am I black enough? Am I white enough?

As a young, coloured female whose accent stands out amongst my cousins who have grown up in the Cape Flats, where is my place in this tapestry?

The answer to these questions lies in the evidence of my family’s existence that I carry with me today. It is in the beloved frikkadel recipes my grandmother’s Jewish ancestors shared with her as a young girl. It is in the colloquial Afrikaans phrases my father shouts with my brother when watching their favourite soccer teams. It is in the lessons, manners and beliefs my mother has allowed me to take on and make meaning of in my own time and my own way. My heritage is no simple watercolour painting. It’s bright, loud and messy. It’s equally filled with teachings and mistakes of the past, contemplations of the present and aspirations for the future. It reflects my understanding of what it means to be a citizen of this country, which wishes to move forward as a nation inclusive of all colours, textures, styles and mediums, filled with inspiring young artists all waiting to leave their mark on the masterpiece. Whether it be through a praise poem, modern sculpture, spraypainted mural or even a compelling blog post, there are many ways to add to the artwork.

So, as you sink your teeth into your boerewors roll, dish up your pap or steal seconds of the potato salad consider this… 

Tell us: You are one of many artists contributing to a gallery of artworks that have inherited a colour. What does that colour mean to you, and how will you portray and preserve it on this special day?

Read about the history of heritage day here