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Musawenkosi Moyo
INDLU Yokufundela Project, which aims to promote the uptake of Ndebele language and literature, is appealing for assistance to host its annual Ndebele literature festival.
The festival, which began in 2022 and last year hosted 750 students from 73 primary and secondary schools in Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands, and Masvingo provinces, is set to be hosted in September.
In an interview, festival director Precious Moyo who is also a teacher at Nkulumane High school said the festival will run for three days under the theme: “Reviving our roots: celebrating culture and language, embracing our heritage.”
The festival will include various activities such as a heritage tour to Mhlahlandlela Palace, Entumbane in Matopo where there is a burial site of Mzilikazi and his wagon. There is also going to be public speaking, and drama performances. She said there will also be public speaking and drama performances.
She said the motivation behind hosting such an event was to promote the Ndebele language and to make people, particularly young people, become interested in learning the language.
“This festival is very important as it comes at a time when youths have forgotten their indigenous languages and customs and it is our hope that it will revive their interest in learning their language, norms and culture,” she said.
The festival will also give pupils the opportunity to interact with other students and teachers from different schools and learn from them as well. Moyo said that they are currently self-funded, needing to take money from their pockets to make all the preparations needed to host the event, such as transportation and food.
“We appeal to sponsors to assist us in making this festival possible for the sake of the children, who are our future. Their support will enable us to provide a platform for young people to connect with their heritage and develop vital skills like public speaking and teamwork,” said Moyo.
Online Reporter