Matobo to host Ikalanga Culture day
Lindiwe Mozola | Thursday July 30, 2015 11:42
The day is set aside for Bakalanga to celebrate their culture through traditional cuisines, clothes, songs, dance and games, amongst others.
According to the chairperson of the association Uyapo Mudaba they have been celebrating the day annually since its inception in 2007. “We try to teach people about our culture as Bakalanga more especially the youth that have adopted other cultures hence discarding their culture in the long term,” he said.
He added that culture has always been important in instilling norms and values to up-coming generations and in that aspect when the youth uplift their culture this can go a long way in preventing situations that bedevil them today.
Mudaba listed situations such as HIV/AIDS, unemployment, passion killings and crime among the ills that can befall culturally confused people. As the association they try by all means to close the culture gap by holding the cultural celebration annually.
He also mentioned that the day is meant to conserve culture in Botswana and it is on this day that they probe moral decay and on the other hand revive culture.
Although the day will celebrate Kalanga culture other cultural activities are observed. He pleaded with Batswana from all over the country to come and appreciate the Ikalanga culture as well as share theirs.
Mudaba explained that when they started the celebration in 2007 the government, through a cultural grant funded them. Otherwise, they have been generating their own income. “This goes to show how much we love and appreciate our culture. We appeal to the business community for sponsorship,” he added. The day will be serenaded by Kalanga traditional dances and music such as Hosanna, Mazenge, Matile and Mukomoto among others. “We look forward to attract many people in the northern region like all other years. Other people are invited to come and share their cultures with us,” Mudaba said.
Artists have also been invited to come and exhibit their artwork to gain more exposure.