The story behind my traditions

Heritage , Culture , Identity , Inclusivity

Maize is a staple food in sub-Saharan Africa. Most of us eat it in the form of maize meal – but how that maize meal is prepared is very different around the country and continent!

Whether you know it as pap, phutu, mieliepap, stywe pap, porridge, sadza, isitshwala, or any other name, and whether you like it stiff, runny, crumbly or with maas on the side, on top, or nowhere on your plate, how you eat it reflects something of the traditions you grew up with.

Traditions can be like pap – we think the way that we eat it is ‘normal’ until we meet other people and learn that there is no such thing as normal! In some ways it is like the question that we’re exploring together this month: What does it mean to be South African? Maybe there isn’t just one ‘right’ answer to that question, maybe being South African is much more than just one aspect of our identity…

Our sense of belonging and identity is often informed by the world we grew up in and the traditions that were part of our lives, which is why the answer to what it means to be South African is as diverse as the people who live here.

Reflecting on traditions, whether big or small, can help us know our own stories better, and by being curious about other people’s traditions, we can learn about the beauty of our diversity.

Below, we have put together some questions for reflection and some ideas for things you can do to better understand other people’s traditions.

Reflection questions

What was something that your family did growing up that was special to you?
What are some of the traditions that you enjoyed from your wider community growing up?
Are there any traditions you’d like to keep practising or pass on to a new generation?

Action step

If you can, create time in your workplace, community or church group to organise a bring-and-share meal where you take a moment to learn about each other’s traditional foods. The key here is also to talk about each dish before eating. You can explain when it is typically eaten, how it’s prepared, and perhaps a memory attached to it.

How to ask, listen and tell

Getting to know someone’s story can feel intimidating and awkward – where do we start, what do we ask? We believe that there’s a simple way to help us share in each other’s stories. It’s a framework called Ask. Listen. Tell.

By asking, listening and telling our stories, we can embark on a process of deepening our relationships. We have a resource that can help guide you through how to use Ask. Listen. Tell. in your family, church or faith group, workplace and beyond.

Download the free resource

Lindsey Moyo

Lindsey has a background in journalism, online content production and publishing. She is passionate about helping people use words to communicate their stories and perspectives.