Awakening African traditions through art

Thembinkosi Khumalo, Sunday Life Reporter
THE thirst to be labelled as “civilised” has somehow made a lot of individuals shake off their own culture which they deem primitive.

In most cases, this has led to a loss of identity and for many Africans; traditions were lost when they started believing the narrative that their practices are evil.

The irony in this is that Africans had been practicing them for a long period of time and it was actually working for them.

On 26 May, Bulawayo Methodist High School conducted an Africa Day celebration in which Khaya Arts, Um’Africakazi, UMqemani the Poet, Moyoxide, and other artistes gave performances that showcased the best of African culture and the beauty of tradition.

The aim of the event was to stimulate an interest in African tradition.

The host of the event, Liberty Ndaba said: “A lot of our youngsters are deviating from their cultural norms and values.

We can consume all the content shared on media spaces about western cultures all we want, but we should not forget who we are by trying to copy what others do at the expense of our culture.

“I have noticed that historians document their history very well and they participate in technology but they have their core in their cultural and traditional practices.

So, this is a way to say, let us have our roots in who we are.

You might be a Christian but at the same time, know your origin.

Civilisation does not mean abandoning your culture.”

The well-organised event that left the attendants wanting more was graced by historian and cultural activist, Pathisa Nyathi who was the guest speaker.

“It is very important to know and be rooted in our traditions because it is evident that we have lost what makes us who we are and adopted most of the western cultures.

The painful part is that the knowledge about our traditions has been lost and forgotten.

There is a huge dis-link between yesterday and today’s life which needs to be fixed, especially in mindset.

We are not saying we should go back to wearing amabhetshu, all we are saying is, let us not lose our ideology.