APY1502
Assignment 2 Semester 1 2025
Unique #:
Due Date: April 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, 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
Varsity Cube 2024 +27 81 278 3372
Assignment 2 Semester 1 2025
Unique #:
Due Date: April 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, 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
Varsity Cube 2024 +27 81 278 3372
