In Heritage We Stand’s explosive cultural bash lights up Inkwenkwezi Secondary School
Peter Luhanga
- In Heritage We Stand hosted an annual International Mother Language Day programme in Dunoon on Friday.
- The UNESCO-backed event promotes multilingualism and preserves cultural heritage.
- Poet and language activist Bulelwa Basse says the event provided a platform for discussion and local talent.
- The celebration featured a full cultural showcase, along with a high-energy performance.
Cultural heritage through language was the focus of the annual International Mother Language Day hosted by the non-profit organisation In Heritage We stand at Inkwenkwezi Secondary School on 21 February.
International Mother Language Day is a UNESCO initiative and poet and language activist Bulelwa Basse, founder of In Heritage We Stand and Lyrical Base Project, says the event at the Dunon school promoted multilingualism and cultural heritage by providing a platform for discussion and local talent to shine.
“In Heritage We Stand plays an important role in collecting, conserving, safe-guarding and connecting people to our cultural heritage – both tangible and intangible,” says Basse.
She says the programme aligns with the ethos of the Freedom Charter and the Constitution by fostering social cohesion through the celebration of mother tongue languages.
The celebration wasn’t just about words – it was a full-on cultural showcase.
Isibane se Afrika, a renowned choir and dance ensemble from Khayelitsha, performed cultural songs and dances at the event, which began just after 2 pm, captivating an audience of hundreds of learners.
“This year, I decided for Dunoon Township’s Inkwenkwezi Secondary School learners to be the beneficiaries of enjoying the edutainment of our rich heritage as South Africans, by introducing an informative, educational and entertaining programme which entails highlighting the importance of speaking, learning in, and promoting our African languages. I decided to juxtapose this against the backdrop of indigenous dance – to complement the weaving of our mother-tongue in narrating the significance of the day,” said Basse.
The initiative, she says, also advocates for the inclusion of indigenous languages in policymaking.
She says despite the scant sponsorships for such cultural gems, she remains undeterred.
“I take extreme pride in the fact that In Heritage We Stand was able to administer all logistics in hosting International Mother Language Day: Although I continue to lament the lack of sponsorship toward events of this nature, which in fact benefit society, I remain hopeful that the public-private sector will take a committed stance, in supporting civil society organisations,” she says.
She says the state and corporate heavyweights need to step up their support for community initiatives.
A teacher at Inkwenkwezi Secondary School, Phinda Siyo, says such events are very significant for learners to help them take pride in their own identity, and cultural and linguistic heritage.
“Such events enliven the school environment beyond just for entertainment but leave an indelible mark in learner’s minds about their heritage and culture. Learners do identify with such performance that keeps them grounded in culture, tradition, art and dance,” says Siyo.
He said learners were inspired by the talent of their peers from Isibane se Afrika who gave great performances using a mixture of contemporary and traditional African dance and singing.