Celebrating diverse cultures at Abbaquar-San Dream Centre
The Abbaquar-San Dream Centre celebrated Heritage Day by creating awareness and educating the community on the diverse history of the Khoi-San people.
THE Abbaquar-San Dream Centre was adorned with traditional decorative pieces as the centre celebrated Heritage Day on September 24 with an event to acknowledge the roots and culture of the Khoi and San communities.
Also read: Five reasons to celebrate Heritage Day
This event was led by chieftess Olivia Jones and aimed at enlightening the community about their richly rooted history and culture, and the important role the Abbaquar-San Dream Centre plays in preserving this heritage.
Jones said they wanted to create awareness on the origin of the Khoi and San people. “It is very important that people understand what the purpose of the Abbaquar-San Dream Centre is, not only for our community, but all the people to appreciate the cultural diversity that exists,” she said.
The day was characterised by an educative display on the Abbaquar-San people, showcasing the youth’s talents in traditional language and dance and the visual arts, and there was also a special indigenous food tasting.
Jones emphasised how vital this occasion was for them. “In our community in particular, it is very important that we bring out the cultural significance of our people and dislodge the notion that we have no culture. Many of our community members come from lucrative and multi-cultural backgrounds,” she said.
The event saw the attendance of young and older community members from other wards, some from as far away as the South Coast. “We tried to create a beautiful, warm atmosphere where people from different walks of life can build bridges, share information and celebrate each other by embracing the spirit of Ubuntu,” she said.
Jones said the highlight of the day was a speech from His Royal Majesty King Mervyn Roland Dunn, the San King, which left everyone inspired and connected to their culture.
The day served as a day of learning and embracing the diverse cultures in the community.
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