adminIt was opened to the public last month and it gives hands on experience about the culture of Ama Ndebele.
Speaking during a tour by SOS grade seven pupils on Tuesday, the founder of the centre, Mr Pathisa Nyathi, an accomplished cultural activists and historian, said the emphasis of the heritage centre was cultural heritage, research and documentation and a resource centre for teachers.
The centre with its international connotation will focus on collecting lost information at community level then district, provincial, national and beyond.
“There is a need to compare ethnic groups and beliefs of other African countries. Africans have an almost similar history hence the need for such efforts that will assist educators,” said Mr Nyathi.
“There is a lost gap on cultural practices and most of our history teachers have lost touch with society and its practices. Therefore this centre will assist in bridging that gap for such teachers and their pupils. Children can now relate what they learn from the text books with nature,” said Mr Nyathi.
On arrival, the children were shown how to approach a home in the cultural aspect. They were taken through different stages manned by elderly people who showed them what takes place at a rural home set up.
Gogo Marvis Mloyi (52), a specialist in basketry, showed the pupils different works she does. Pupils got an opportunity to ask how to use of some works they were not familiar with.
Gogo Makoroni Mhlanga showed the pupils how to make clay pots and the uses and names of different sizes of the pots. She was amazed at the interest shown by the children.
Gogo Mhlanga expressed concern over today’s generation, which she said had lost cultural and social beliefs.
“You children of today have no history to teach your children. I commend what the founders of this centre have done for trying to bring back that, which we are quickly losing,” she said.
The most interesting stage was the carving section where Mr Phiri Ncube (72) showed different carvings, among them the popular Ndebele stool which doubles as a headrest. The interesting thing is that they were last made before the 1980s.
There are only three found at Pitt University Museum in Oxford. The centre managed to get pictures of how it looked like and have made similar ones for educational purposes.
Girls were excited as they took turns to pound and grind sorghum.
They were later shown how to set snares, fence and play traditional games such as intsoro and igwini. The games were meant to teach children to be honest and admit defeat.
The school head, Mrs Irene Sibanda, praised the founders of the centre, saying that it would bridge the gap between oral education and practical.
“These children can now relate what they learn especially on proverbs. This is because they are seeing the real things and are also explained to what they mean,” said Mrs Sibanda.
“The centre is rich with cultural and natural heritage, which will assist in learning Ndebele and be able to relate,” she said.
The centre is continuing to collect lost information and would soon be conducting guided tours for tourists.
Londile Moyo
Bongani Ndlovu