MDANTSANE-born author Bathandwa Mcuba has published a book aimed at encouraging people to embrace the different cultures as South Africa celebrates 20 years of democracy.
The book, Creative Culture, looks at the different cultures in the country through pictures and words.
Mcuba travelled all nine provinces and spent time with various cultures of the rainbow nation.
The book has 27 chapters, of which 13 are about the different cultures and 14 are reflections from the born frees and youth of South Africa.
Mcuba said she started research for her book in 2010 after she hosted a cultural fashion show during the Soccer World Cup.
She said South Africans often spoke about diversity but few knew what it was.
“Before we can embrace other people, we need to know who we are. This starts from me understanding my Xhosa roots and later exploring other cultures and understand them,” she said.
Mcuba said she was also encouraged to do the research after she realised many young people were not aware of other South African cultures and instead they had a desire to go to the United States.
“Through my travels, I have seen that the Americans are very patriotic about their country. For us to be patriotic, we need to understand who we are as a nation.
“This means knowing the Afrikaners, the Zulus and the Vendas,” she said.
During her journey Mcuba said she met a lot of amazing people in the country who were willing to assist her with research.
“There were times that I was turned down but the general feel was warm and friendly,” she said.
Each culture has a chapter which has pictures of their traditional clothing, food and significant customs accompanied by Mcuba’s take on them and history.
She said she had decided to give each culture an alliterative adjective to describe it.
Some of the adjectives used are: Amazing Afrikaners, Beautiful Basotho, Innovative Indians, Knowledgeable Khoi-San, Victorious Vendas and Zealous Zulus.
“This book talks to everyone.
“It encourages us to embrace each other and through that we could get to a point of becoming a united nation that Tata Nelson Mandela and the others have fought for,” she said. Mcuba said through embracing each other South Africans would be able to welcome other nations.
“You cannot love other people without loving yourself. We cannot embrace other African nations without understanding who we are as a nation.”
The book was published by Canadian-based company, Black Card Books.
Although not available in book stores yet, it can be ordered by e-mailing Mcuba at bathandwa@theafricanshow.com or an sms to 083-573-9900. — poliswap@dispatch.co.za
Cultural diversity in SA unwrapped
The book, Creative Culture, looks at the different cultures in the country through pictures and words.
Mcuba travelled all nine provinces and spent time with various cultures of the rainbow nation.
The book has 27 chapters, of which 13 are about the different cultures and 14 are reflections from the born frees and youth of South Africa.
Mcuba said she started research for her book in 2010 after she hosted a cultural fashion show during the Soccer World Cup.
She said South Africans often spoke about diversity but few knew what it was.
“Before we can embrace other people, we need to know who we are. This starts from me understanding my Xhosa roots and later exploring other cultures and understand them,” she said.
Mcuba said she was also encouraged to do the research after she realised many young people were not aware of other South African cultures and instead they had a desire to go to the United States.
“Through my travels, I have seen that the Americans are very patriotic about their country. For us to be patriotic, we need to understand who we are as a nation.
“This means knowing the Afrikaners, the Zulus and the Vendas,” she said.
During her journey Mcuba said she met a lot of amazing people in the country who were willing to assist her with research.
“There were times that I was turned down but the general feel was warm and friendly,” she said.
Each culture has a chapter which has pictures of their traditional clothing, food and significant customs accompanied by Mcuba’s take on them and history.
She said she had decided to give each culture an alliterative adjective to describe it.
Some of the adjectives used are: Amazing Afrikaners, Beautiful Basotho, Innovative Indians, Knowledgeable Khoi-San, Victorious Vendas and Zealous Zulus.
“This book talks to everyone.
“It encourages us to embrace each other and through that we could get to a point of becoming a united nation that Tata Nelson Mandela and the others have fought for,” she said. Mcuba said through embracing each other South Africans would be able to welcome other nations.
“You cannot love other people without loving yourself. We cannot embrace other African nations without understanding who we are as a nation.”
The book was published by Canadian-based company, Black Card Books.
Although not available in book stores yet, it can be ordered by e-mailing Mcuba at bathandwa@theafricanshow.com or an sms to 083-573-9900. — poliswap@dispatch.co.za
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