Assignment 2 Semester 1 2025
Unique number:
Due Date: April 2025
This document includes:
Helpful answers and guidelines
Detailed explanations and/ or calculations
References
Connect with the tutor on
+27 68 812 0934
,© Study Shack 2025. All rights Reserved +27 68 812 0934
, 2 ESSAYS PROVIDED
Understanding Culture Through Celebration: An Anthropological
Reflection on a South African Heritage Day Event
Introduction
On 24 September 2024, I attended a Heritage Day celebration at a local
community hall in Soweto, Johannesburg. Heritage Day, often referred to as
―Braai Day‖ by many South Africans, is a public holiday dedicated to
celebrating the diverse cultural heritage of the nation’s people. This essay
presents a detailed anthropological reflection on the event. I describe where
and when it took place, who attended, and what happened. I then offer a
personal reflection and connect my observations to anthropological concepts
such as cultural identity, social cohesion, and symbolic interactionism.
Contextualising the Event
Date, Time, and Location
The event took place on Heritage Day, 24 September 2024, from 10:00 AM to
5:00 PM. The venue was a large community centre located in Orlando West,
Soweto. The community centre is a popular gathering space used for events
such as weddings, funerals, and political meetings. For this particular event,
the centre was transformed with colourful decorations representing different
South African cultures, including Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, Sotho, and Indian
South African traditions.
Attendance and Demographics
Approximately 200 people attended the event. The crowd was diverse in
terms of age and gender, including children, youth, adults, and the elderly.
There was a relatively equal gender balance, and many attendees wore
traditional attire representative of their cultural background. The audience
included locals from Soweto and a few invited guests from nearby suburbs
like Diepkloof and Meadowlands.
Event Description: Observing Culture in Practice
© Study Shack 2025. All rights Reserved +27 68 812 0934