Living the heritage through Indigenous music competitions

Abstract

This research investigates the problem that lies in the perception of cultural dance music performance as a practice confined to homelands, resulting in disconnect for individuals in urban spaces, distancing them from their traditional cultures and practices. To address this issue, it is essential to recognize that traditional music should integrate into city life. While competitions are one approach, it is not the sole solution. Government initiatives should be developed to actively promote and encourage cultural dance performances in urban spaces, fostering a sense of cultural identity and unity among city dwellers. Two case studies show a form of resilience between the competitions that are held by the department of basic education in South African and the collaborative approach by three different cultures (Venda, Pedi and Tsonga) in the Northern part of South Africa called Limpopo province that uses cultural performances to reimagine urban spaces that are accommodative of indigenous performances. These two initiatives challenge the controversial policies of separate development that were put in place by the apartheid regime to divide South African black people by culture. The performances bring all black people together where they were expected to live as separate ethnic groups.