As May is Africa Month, the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) and popular beer brand Castle Milk Stout are pressing ahead to have May 8 declared as National Ancestors’ Day on the national calendar.
Zolani Mkiva, secretary-general of Contralesa, said ancestors are the unshakable foundation upon which we build our present and future.
“Recognising and honouring their enduring wisdom, guidance, and sacrifices is a profoundly unifying sentiment shared by all Africans,” said Mkiva.
Online petition
Contralesa and Castle have launched an online petition on the company’s website, which has been running since 2021.
Contralesa said it was making a humble appeal to South Africans to join the motion. This is in support of the Ancestors’ Day campaign. They can do this by signing the petition or joining the online conversation.
“As Contralesa, we are making a royal call to all our people to invoke their originality, which in essence is their Africanness.
“It is in our best interest to go back to our spiritual roots so that we can find progression in our developmental agenda. It is only through our spiritual resolve that we can process the hopes and dreams of our forefathers.
“The unwritten mandate of our ancestors must be honoured wholeheartedly by foregrounding African spirituality in the management of the national question,” said Mkiva.
Celebration through education, music, art, and fashion
To reignite fervour and reaffirm the brand’s commitment in partnership with Contralesa, Castle Milk Stout is hosting the annual Ancestor’s Day Imbizo. This event is a multifaceted celebration through the lenses of education, music, art, and fashion.
The landmark event aims to foster intergenerational knowledge exchange. It aims to enable attendees to dive into the rich tapestry of African ancestral veneration. To continue the dialogue about having this day recognised.
“Ancestor’s Day is a unifying force that allows us to honor our roots while embracing an era of African renaissance. By commemorating this day, we pay tribute to those who walked before us. The trailblazers who laid the foundation for our rich cultural tapestry. They also inspired us with the wisdom to forge ahead,” explained Mkiva.
The campaign to declare May 8 the National Ancestors’ Day can be joined on the Castle Milk Stout website.
