Colourful heritage celebration
JUKSKEI PARK – Staff at Methodist Homes Summerfield Park dress up, dance and share their food with residents.
Heritage Day was celebrated in the most vibrant way at Methodist Homes Summerfield Park, Jukskei Park, on 23 September. Staff at the home dressed in traditional attire, danced to traditional music, shared traditional food with residents, read poems and sang wedding songs.
Nguni, Tsonga, Tswana, Sotho and Pedi were the main acts, and everybody laughed and clapped as the dancing became remarkably jovial even before the African beer was shared. The Tsongas won the competition for the best dressed and best dancers. Ngunis came second, and Tswanas, Sothos and Pedis under one group came third.
“This is the right celebration for Heritage Day,” said manager of the home Carl Volbrecht. “The residents enjoyed it. Even the frail residents enjoyed it.” He explained that this was the fifth time the home celebrated Heritage Day and each time was better than the last.
“We celebrate our forefathers’ culture to show the young ones they must know our culture as well,” said Nursing Sister Juliet Mathibela. Resident Myrtle McIntyre said that the dancing was “very nice” and she would like to know more about what is behind it.
Cultural food included mopane worms, ting, thelelele, moroga, dikgoatla, dinawa, tripe and dumplings. African beer was also in ample supply.
Details: Methodist Homes Summerfield Park 011 704 3024.
