This Friday, South Africa’s most luminous champions of arts, culture and heritage will descend upon the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre in Kimberley to celebrate the annual Golden Shield Heritage Awards. Held under the auspices of the National Heritage Council (NHC) of South Africa, in partnership with the Sol Plaatje Municipality and the Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts & Culture, the aim is to promote the Republic of South Africa’s national heritage and acknowledge its role in social cohesion and community development. 

18 finalists have been selected from dozens of nominees across the wide spectrum of South Africa’s diverse communities. 
Some of the highlights of the event include the announcement of this year’s Lifetime Achiever award, which will be bestowed upon Dr. Mongane Wally Serote in recognition of his outstanding and lasting contribution to the heritage profession over a significant period of time. 
Dr. Serote is a South African poet and writer. He became involved in political resistance to the apartheid government by joining the African National Congress (ANC) and in 1969 was arrested and detained for several months without trial. He subsequently spent years in exile, working in Botswana, and later London, England, for the ANC in their Arts and Culture Department, before eventually returning to South Africa in 1990.
He returned to South Africa in 1990, after the ANC was unbanned. In 1993, he won the Noma Award for Publishing in Africa. In 2004, he received the Pablo Neruda award from the Chilean government.
He has served as chair of the parliamentary select committee for arts and culture, and was also the Chief Executive of Freedom Park, a national heritage site in Pretoria opened in 2007. He has founded a few NGOs, iIKSSA Trust where he is the Chairperson, IARI which he is also the CEO. He sits on a few advisory boards in the country dealing with Arts, Culture, Indigenous Knowledge, and African Renaissance issues.

The National Living Treasure Award recognises individuals who have promoted and advocated the significance or revival of Intangible Cultural Heritage over a number of years. This award recognises an elder who is highly involved in transferring traditional art forms, such as rug weaving, basketry, storytelling, pottery and design, as well as other forms that are considered intangible, to the young generation

This year’s National Living Treasure finalists are jazz legend Mr. Jonas Gwangwa and heritage icon Dr. Thomas Chauke. 
The MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Ms Bongiwe Mbinqo- Gigaba  said that, “As we’re celebrating Heritage Month and the hard work of our nation united in diversity, we are going to honour and recognize the contributions of individuals , groups or organisations/academic institutions for the hard and good work being done to enhance and protect the Heritage of our African soil. They are indeed the Champions of our Heritage.

Poet and Performance artist Lebo Mashile will manage the evening’s programme and celebrated vocalist, Lira will perform along with a bevy of Kimberley based artists including the talented Khoi dance group, Bailombo Dans Groep. 
“We believe that it is important to honor the cultural heroes of our communities who have been striving to preserve and promote and pass on our heritage. They help to create a legacy that future generations will thank them for,” says the CEO of the NHC Adv. Sonwabile Mancotywa.
This event is an annual highlight on the national cultural calendar and is well attended by government leaders, traditional healers, arts and culture enthusiasts and members of the community.

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