Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
Defence students at the Zimbabwe Staff College have been urged to celebrate indigenous voices to express their identities and foster development in unity, as cultural values continue to be compromised by globalisation.
The call was made by Brigadier General Dr Joe Muzvidziwa, who was the guest of honour at the annual Zimbabwe Staff College Culture Day celebrations on Saturday.
Exhibiting at the event were defence students from China, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Eswatini, Lesotho, Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
The theme for this year was “Celebrating Indigenous Voices.”
Brigadier Muzvidziwa said the theme spoke to the reality that indigenous languages are a fundamental medium through which societies express their values, which continue to be compromised by globalisation.
“Historically, colonialism dominated the indigenous people in all areas of endeavour,” Brigadier Muzvidziwa said.
“In the case of Africa, they invented the myths of viewing our Africa as a dark continent, endowed with uncivilised, primitive, non-believers, void of the knowledge of God.
“They relegated us to pagan status. The settlers strove to mould culturally detached Africans. However, as the Global South, we must redefine ourselves by observing the tenets of African Ubuntu Philosophy as espoused by our great Pan-African leaders, and today’s event challenges our position in the community of nations.
“China has set its clear path through the Up and Out of Poverty of 2016 and The Governance of China Volume II of 2017 by President Xi Jinping. Besides the issues of land, the liberation struggles were waged to restore our cultural values.” He also urged the students to reflect on their heroes and heroines who fought for the restoration of their culture.
“In our times: the departed Seretse Khama, Mao Ze Dong, King Sobhuza II, Jomo Kenyatta, King Moshoeshoe, Kamuzu Banda, Samora Machel, Sam Nujoma, Ahmadu Bello, Nelson Mandela, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyere-re, Kenneth Kaunda, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, and Joshua Mgabuko Nyongolo Nkomo. May their souls rest in peace,” he said.
“We stand guided by such luminaries as we reflect on our past for the betterment of our future. Remember the spirit of Ubuntu that binds us together as Africans, as espoused by Julius Mwalimu Nyerere’s philosophy of “Uhuru, Umoja naUjamaa” (meaning independence, oneness, and family-hood).
“Today’s Culture Day event offered us time and space to experience a deeper appreciation of each other’s culture. We got the opportunity to share and exchange the core values that make each of our nations unique. Through such interactions, we hope to foster social cohesion, I implore all of us to jealously guard against neo-colonisation by defending our people and their diverse way of life, our land, and our abundant precious endowments for future generations.
“As I moved around the stands, I realised that our songs and dances tell stories of how we express ourselves.” The drumbeat, clapping, ululating and dancing convey symbolic communication for different types of ceremonies ranging from rain making, thanksgiving, marriage, funerals, healing and highlighting the unique and shared cultural journeys that define our diverse communities.”
Brigadier Muzvidziwa gave an awards to Nigeria for being the most creative African country and China for being the most creative international country.
In attendance were the Chinese and South African ambassadors, cultural councillors, defence attaches among others.
