Youth show the way at Heritage Day celebration
The organiser of a Heritage Day programme with a difference said “young people are not lost or apathetic: they are intelligent and are committed to making a difference, we just need to listen carefully to what they are saying”.
Xolani Kondile said he was impressed, but not surprised by the talent and insight of pupils from Nomzamo and Kuyasa secondary schools who took part.
Hosted by Nomzamo, the varied two-hour programme focused mostly on drama and debate and also included choral music, traditional dance and poetry in celebration of heritage and culture.
“We wanted to teach people to accept and be able to accommodate each and everyone regardless of their beliefs and cultural practices,” said Nomzamo Secondary School Grade 11 pupil Salizwanathi Nxawe was one of the creators of the powerful drama that Nomzamo pupils staged.
Tragically, in November 2021, Bhisho High School pupil Lathitha Nako, who was undergoing rituals to become a traditional healer, committed suicide.
She had been bullied at school about her ancestral calling.
The play aimed to show how harmful society’s lack of understanding of ukuthwasa can be.
“I wanted everyone to witness what is it like for a teenager who got introduced to the gift of being able to heal people through cultural practices but was treated as an outcast because people have different beliefs.
“We wanted to teach people to be able to accommodate each other regardless of their beliefs and cultural practices,” she said.
The Kuyasa Debate Club took to the stage with their structured argument with the motion: “Celebrating national heritage does not work in a diverse country like South Africa”.
They argued that traditional practices like ukukotiza suppress young makotis (brides), who are expected to dress a certain way while their husbands have no such restrictions.
Kondile said the performances of poetry, umxhentso, drama, izitibili and the debate were all highlights.
“All of it came together beautifully. “The quality of the performances showed yet again that with support and the provision of resources and opportunities, young people in underserved communities can thrive.
“They can make a meaningful contribution to society,” he said, stressing the youth were not lost or apathetic and were committed to making a difference but needed to be listened to.
He acknowledged the valuable support of the Municipality’s Library Services and Ndlambe’s Special Project Unit.
“Their commitment to make the event successful indicates that unity is power.
“I hope these learners have seen how smart and creative they are.
“Their talents do not just entertain, but get us to think and shape a better understanding of who we are as a community,” he said.
Kondile called for community builders to create more events that gave an important stage to the youth.
“Everybody benefits when young people come together: they are creative, they have ideas.
“Let them use their energy to uplift each other and their community.
“They just need platforms and guidance,” he said.
❝ We wanted to teach people to accept and be able to accommodate each and everyone regardless of their beliefs and cultural practices