Programme Director, Mr. Vusithemba Ndima, Acting Deputy Director-General,
Deputy Minister, Mr. Paul Mashatile,
Members of Parliament,
Our Living Human Treasures,
Academics and artists,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to begin by acknowledging the Living Human Treasures in our midst. There are among us today those who we could consider to be living human treasures and we thank you for honouring us with your presence. May you continue empowering and educating our nation through your singing, your dancing, your writing, your wonderful works of art and craft and your immense contribution through your work in inspiring others to do about their daily work and planting seeds for the future.
I also want to take this opportunity to welcome fellow members of parliament, distinguished artists, cultural activists and members of the public for being part of this important discussion.
Today, the 30th of September, marks the last day of Heritage Month. This has been a successful heritage month. It culminated with national celebrations at our magnificent Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. It is fitting that the stadium is named Moses Mabhida, in honour of a tireless fighter for freedom and justice in our country.
If there was any doubt about the value and importance of culture and heritage, the legacy of the 2010 World Cup demonstrates beyond doubt the centrality of these to our national identity. Names such as the Calabash, Mbombela, King Shaka International etc again show the omnipresence of culture and identity. It is true that today’s events are tomorrow’s heritage. Our generation should be proud that in terms of our role in the 2010 Soccer World Cup, we have made our mark in history – not only our own history, but the history books of the world.
My Department decided to conclude Heritage Month with a seminar on Living Human Treasures. This seminar is part of operationalising a recently concluded national policy on Living Heritage.
It is this policy that makes provision for a Living Human Treasure’s programme.
This policy position and statement came about because in our communities all over the country there are men and women of practical wisdom who are dedicating their lives to helping others understand our heritage and our culture yet their contributions are often unacknowledged in the wider world.
It is also true that every year we bury artists and practitioners who not only die in poverty, but leave the nation poorer because they have not transferred or trained others to take over from them.
This situation is not sustainable.
We also have cultural practices dying out leaving the culture and heritage of our country impoverished.
Societies are built on experience and knowledge sharing; each generation’s achievements are a basis on which the next generation works on. This is the essence of heritage.
Here on the African continent, we are building an African identity out of the ways of life of our people. In fact our monuments and commemorations are practical manifestations of celebrating and valuing the contributions made by our predecessors.
Thus the Living Human Treasures programme is an attempt by the Department and Government broadly to create a conducive environment through which invaluable expertise by our distinguished practitioners is transferred in a sustainable and structured manner to current and future generations.
By honouring our Living Human Treasures we are nurturing an African and South African reality where elders are taken seriously, where expertise is valued and where the gap between generations can be bridged through conscious interventions.
We need young people who are fully equipped to understand the present and the past through their knowledge of history, of heritage and of culture – because these are the prerequisites that they need to arm themselves for addressing the challenges of the future.
Moreover, in the modern world, technological and economic advances have given us societies and a world where knowledge has become an important factor in life. Reference is even made to the knowledge economy.
A closer examination of the mandate of the Department of Arts and Culture reveals that most of our work is skills and human driven, whether one is talking about a crafter, a musician, a museum curator, a writer etc.
It is knowledge that is at the centre of our enterprise.
And the Living Human Treasures programme locates people at the centre of knowledge transfer.
The Department will therefore, beginning next year, embark on a public participation process through which criteria for nomination and selection for Living Human Treasures will be done.
We shall establish a National Committee to oversee this programme.
Amongst others, the committee will decide on the frequency of appointing Living Human Treasures, financial incentives to cover the cost of knowledge and skills transfer, as well as equitable national spread of these living human legends.
Today the discussion at this seminar ought to assist us in these endeavours.
The question also arises as to the role that artists and our Living Human Treasures can play in contributing to South African national identity and to social cohesion.
The government has identified 12 priority areas, these include (among others):
(1) improved quality of basic education,
(5) a skilled and capable workforce to support an inclusive growth path and
(12) an efficient, effective and development oriented public service and an empowered, fair and inclusive citizenship.
A critical examination of the Living Human Treasures programme indicates that it has potential to contribute to all these priority areas.
There is often a narrow conception of education as only referring to classroom education. This is certainly beyond the confines of a classroom and involves lifelong learning.
The Living Human Treasures programme has potential to enrich society and individuals who will be fortunate to benefit from its training.
It is my hope that in the medium to long term, this programme will contribute to a more people-centred society where Ubuntu and a Caring Nation are what bind us all.
Speaking at the National Heritage Celebrations in Durban on Friday, President Jacob Zuma, reminded us of what our strengths are as a people, when he spoke about the lessons we have learnt through hosting a successful Soccer World Cup; and I quote:
“We have learned that the determination and unity of purpose are recipes and ingredients of success.
We also learned that the unity and cohesion of our communities are sources of strength and inspiration that can lead to greater achievements.…
We learned too, that it is possible to build truly united and cohesive South African nation, focused on the goal of building a prosperous South Africa.”
I think that it is this kind of self-understanding and confidence that comes from knowing our abilities and strengths that should guide the deliberations here today.
Let’s all work extra hard today with absolute “determination and unity of purpose” towards producing a comprehensive framework that will facilitate this initiative coming to full realisation.
I urge everyone attending this Seminar to utilise this important opportunity to contribute to the framework.
In doing so you are doing the nation proud – since your contribution will benefit the generations to come.
I thank you.
