South African Embassy in Athens celebrates Heritage Day

22 September 2015

“Our knowledge, our heritage: Towards the identification, promotion and preservation of South Africa’s living heritage”

The South African Embassy in Athens once again invited guests to celebrate Heritage Day and showcase South Africa’s rich cultural heritage and diversity which is widely recognised as the “rainbow nation”. In celebration of this year’s theme it is highly essential to acknowledge that “heritage is the foundation of all communities and an essential source of identity and continuity”.

The newly accredited South African Ambassador, HE Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk, welcomed and thanked all present Ambassadors, representatives of government, Honorary Consuls, Diplomats and friends of South Africa and announced that this year’s Heritage Day is celebrated in combination with the presentation of his credentials to the President of the Hellenic Republic, HE Mr Prokopis Pavlopoulos.

Ambassador Van Schalkwyk further noted that Heritage Month in South Africa is of great importance as South Africans come together as a nation to celebrate South Africa’s rich heritage and pointed out that South Africa is home to eight of the 1031 World Heritage Sites which are recognised by the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organisation as places of outstanding cultural and historical importance. Special mention was made to the new hominid fossils discovered on 10 September 2015; the species is called Homo naledi and their remains were discovered in a chamber of the Rising Star caves, located 30 meters underground in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.

His Excellency furthermore called on all countries, especially France, as the host of the 2015 Climate Change Conference, to reach a binding agreement on climate change which is of extreme importance for the future of humankind.

Invited guests had the opportunity to taste real South African home cooked dishes and listen to the sounds of South African music and dance to rhythms of traditional songs!

South African Embassy in Athens, Greece