SOUTH Africa's indigenous languages are the country's heritage to be promoted, especially by its leaders - to "be proud of who you are".

This is the message and challenge to President Jacob Zuma by South African Traditional Music Achievement Awards founder Dumisani Goba, who said Zuma had an obligation to speak his indigenous language even when travelling on official state business abroad.

Goba urged South Africans not to just pay lip service to the notion of pride in our national heritage. He said all people should live by that principle.

"We need to love ourselves first before others will," he said. "Leaders need to speak local languages even outside the country. Let them have an interpreter.

"I watched the president doing an interview on television in English when he should have used isiZulu. Let's love and cherish our culture and heritage," Goba said.

He was speaking at the Satma's 5th anniversary celebrations on Saturday at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

The function was graced by local celebrities, business people, cultural gurus and international guests. Among them were Sophie Ndaba, Winnie Modise, Joseph Shabalala, Dumisani Mbebe and Welcome Bhodloza Nzimande.