The University of Venda (UNIVEN) recently marked a momentous occasion by celebrating 30 years of democracy in South Africa with a special Heritage Day event. Hosted by the Department of African Languages in the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education (FHSSE) in collaboration with Mapakulile in Africa, the celebration took place at the University Sports Hall on Monday, 30 September 2024. Mapakulile in Africa is a non-profit organisation that promotes African-inspired performing arts.
This year’s Heritage Day celebration was themed ‘Celebrating 30 Years of Democracy through Culture and Information’, underscoring the role of cultural expression and information exchange in promoting unity and understanding. The event focused on the promotion of African languages and encouraged students to engage in cultural exchange, fostering a sense of collaboration among university students. It also served as a platform for students to showcase their cultural heritage, arts, and traditions, while deepening their appreciation of African languages and their importance in the broader community.
In his opening remarks, the Acting Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, Prof Tawanda Runhare, expressed his pride in the university for co-hosting the Heritage Day commemoration. He highlighted the significance of the occasion, noting that it was not only a celebration of democracy, but also a time to honour the sacrifices made by South Africa’s heroes, who fought for the freedoms that are enjoyed today. He reminded attendees that the democracy we celebrate came at a high cost, with many lives lost in the struggle for freedom. “As we sing and celebrate, let us remember the lives of those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom we live in today,” Prof. Runhare said.
Dr Matodzi Raphalalani, Head of the Department of African Languages, spoke with enthusiasm and pride as she addressed the gathering. She emphasised the importance of Heritage Day as a platform to celebrate South Africa’s cultural diversity and the vital role it plays in fostering a sense of identity, particularly for the youth. In a world that is increasingly globalised and fast-paced, Dr Raphalalani stressed the need for young people to reconnect with their cultural roots and under-stand the significance of their heritage.
Dr Raphalalani underscored the connection between heritage and language. “Effective commu-nication is deeply rooted in understanding the culture from which a language originates,” she ex-plained. Without cultural context, language loses its richness and meaning. She urged students to see Heritage Day not just as an opportunity to reflect on the past but as a chance to rediscover and celebrate their identity, which in turn, enriches their academic and personal lives.
Mr. Terence Ball, a South African Heritage Publisher, echoed this sentiment by calling for equality in the treatment of all languages. He highlighted the urgent need for the widespread use of dictio-naries in schools to support language development.
Dr Jane Mufamadi, CEO of Freedom Park commended the participation of young people in the event and spoke about the importance of language in nation-building. Reflecting on South Africa’s multicultural society, Dr Mufamadi highlighted the need for linguistic diversity to be preserved and promoted, particularly through the development of indigenous languages. She also emphasised that South Africa’s constitution enshrines cultural and linguistic rights, reinforced using Official Languages Act No. 12 of 2012, which ensures parity among all languages in the country. She urged everyone to intensify efforts in developing and promoting previously marginalised indigenous lan-guages, emphasising that multilingualism is key to a thriving democracy.
Mr Dumisani Chabalala from the Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture spoke about the signif-icance of the 30-year milestone in South Africa’s journey toward democracy. He expressed that such anniversaries should be moments of reflection, renewal, and a commitment to progress. “We must guard against any forces that threaten our journey towards unity and progress,” he said, un-derscoring the importance of cultural activities in nation-building.
Dr Mafemani Baloyi highlighted the event as an opportunity for exchanging innovative ideas and fostering partnerships to support students in their development. He emphasised the importance of collaboration between the Department of African Languages and other organisations to pro-mote and preserve indigenous African languages.
In his speech, Mr Ntlhashana Mphahlele, Deputy Director-General of Limpopo’s Department of Education, highlighted the importance of understanding one’s heritage, stating, “If you don’t know where you come from, you will not know yourself, and you will not know where you are going.” He also spoke about the Department’s efforts to incorporate indigenous languages into subjects like mathematics, further strengthening the role of language in education.
Finally, Cllr. Cecilia Kwinda, Head of Community Services at Thulamela Local Municipality,stressed the need to preserve and promote all languages, noting that every language has the right to exist and develop. “Africa will be proud of her tongues when they are being used properly,” she said, underscoring her vision for a continent where its diverse linguistic heritage is celebrated and utilised effectively.
The event concluded with a celebration of culture and unity, where attendees were encouraged to continue promoting and preserving their cultural and linguistic heritage to build a more inclusive and democratic society.
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