Braai smoke – it’s the scent of South Africa. Whenever South Africans gather, for any reason and in every part of the country, a braai is almost sure to be at the heart of it. That’s why as you walk into the Ignition Group building on 25 September, you will be greeted by braai smoke in the air, an irresistible pull towards the Piazza as we celebrate Heritage Day.
And when you get closer, it will be your ears that pick up the next celebration of our heritage, because South Africans can’t help but sing and dance. It’s a mix – amapiano followed by an Afrikaans liedjie, a bit of Makhadzi, some Tyla – whatever songs are requested by Ignitioners that make them think of their culture, their families or our country. And when the crowd goes wild, it will be because there’s a celebrity in the house – the amazing Angel M., a local singer who will be kicking the festivities up a level!
In the Piazza, groups of Ignitioners will be singing and dancing, even while they stand in lines to get their Heritage Day meal – a traditional boerie roll or Durban curry (with veg options of course, so there’s something for everyone).
Heritage Day is a big deal at Ignition every year, because we love to celebrate our people – who they are and where they come from, and also where they’re going. While there’s always great food and music, we try to give this important and unique day a different spin every year, just to keep things interesting through a bit of creativity and innovation.
We asked a few of our Ignitioners what Heritage Day means to them, and this is what they had to say:
“Heritage Day to me is celebrating the unity of all cultures, loving and accepting one another for who they are instead of what they look like.” – Nicole Triblehorn.
“My late granny always made Heritage Day special. Since it fell around the festival season, she would buy all of us grandkids something traditional, like bangles or kurti tops, that we’d end up using on Diwali. She’s no longer with us, but those memories are even sweeter now.” – Kajal Laltoparsad.
“Heritage Day means me embracing my Africaness and remembering who I am and how far we have come as Africans.” – Mbalenhle Amanda Nicole Maphumulo
“I love coming to work when we celebrate Heritage Day! It’s such a vibe, with everyone dressed up and looking great, the music and dancing. It’s just a fun day where we can all be ourselves.” – Neliswa Mtshali
“Heritage Day for me is a day to celebrate the amazing diversity South Africa has to offer. It’s a celebration of the different cultures, but most importantly it’s a great display of how even as a very diverse nation we always stand as one.” – Tiaan van Zyl
At Ignition Group, we don’t just celebrate our heritage – we live it, love it and share it every single year.
