TAKING THE YOUTH BACK TO THEIR ROOTS
Indoni celebrates SA’s heritage
WHEN Nomcebo Mthembu realised that social ills, including illiteracy and disrespect, were leading young people astray, she established an organisation to help the youth go back to their roots.
In 2011 Mthembu founded Indoni South Africa, a non-profit organisation that aims to bring about positive behavioural change among the youth through the promotion of arts and culture education and skills development.
“Indoni SA runs the programme of Indoni – My Heritage, My Pride. This is a moral regeneration programme that brings about behavioural change among young people through identity-focused education, using heritage and culture as a tool to influence positive behaviour, as well as promote and preserve African culture,” Mthembu said.
She said Indoni’s mission was to promote inter-cultural awareness, understanding and respect for each other’s cultures and beliefs.
“[It is also] to promote and showcase the diversity of African art – dramatic, musical, textile design and poetic – and to provide a platform for artists and performers, especially young people, to showcase cultural performances as a means of promoting indigenous dance, theatre and storytelling and creating jobs,” Mthembu said.
Indoni runs culture schools across the nine provinces of South Afrcia.
“The Indoni culture schools take place during the June/July school holidays annually. The schools are attended by boys and girls between the ages of 16 and 25.
“We have 12 culture camps in nine provinces where we cater for] Ndebele, Swati, Zulu, Pedi, Tsonga, Venda, Khoisan, Sotho, Mpondo, Xhosa, Thembu and Tswana speakers,” she said.
Over the past five years, 9 000 boys and girls selected from 12 South African cultural groups have graduated from the schools.
Mthembu said at the end of the annual session, each school elects a boy and girl who best represents their culture so they can participate in the Indoni Miss Cultural SA pageant.
“The pageant is uniquely African, where the participants showcase not only their natural beauty but also use the platform to educate and promote their culture and express themselves in their indigenous languages.
“They use the skills that they acquired at the culture schools to showcase a unique African aesthetic through attire, dance and etiquette,” Mthembu said.
She said South Africa was known and appreciated throughout the world for being a multicultural rainbow nation, for embracing diversity and for its rich history and heritage.
“Over the years South Africa has come to the realisation that it is important to nurture and preserve our cultures, identity and traditions before we forget and lose our roots by conforming to modern/western culture.
“Heritage day has been celebrated through sharing of traditional music, dance and food. It is important that we remain true to our heritage by inspiring young people and the society in a manner that positively inspires the promotion and restoration of our true roots and beautiful cultures,” Mthembu said.
One Indoni student, Tendamudzimu Monyai, 19, who is Venda, said she had learnt a lot about her roots at the school. “I was also taught that I have to respect other people’s cultures and their diversity... I was surprised when I was chosen to represent the group in the pageant.
“I am overwhelmed but believe that I will make it. I advise young people to learn more about their cultures. The diversity in this country is so amazing. Our heritage is important and should be celebrated all the time,” Monyai said.
“SA has come to the realisation that it is important to nurture and preserve our cultures