Isindebele musicians produce song in eMba
As a country, we are in this crisis of gender based violence, Covid-19, taxi wars and other social ills because we shifted from our cultures and traditions.
Heritage Month was welcomed in by a cultural event where 28 well-known IsiNdebele musicians produced one song at Rasibe Garden, in eMbalenhle on Saturday, September 4.
It took artists a week to prepare the song which is aiming at healing societies from all social ills, according to the Cultural and Creative Art Centre chairperson, Mr Sipho Mahamba.
“The collaboration of artists from different music genre is to promote social cohesion and unity. We worked with Govan Mbeki Municipality’s traditional leaders, Mr Fanyana Sibanyoni of Rasibe Garden and the Department of Art, Culture, Sport and Recreation in Mpumalanga to make the event successful.
“As a country, we are in this crisis of gender-based violence, Covid-19, taxi wars and other social ills because we shifted from our cultures and traditions. We at the creative art centre want to remind people of the importance of their culture and language because it teaches respect and unity,” said Mr Mahamba.
Chief Isaac Mahlangu reminded the IsiNdebele speaking people that they must learn how to use and promote their language even if they are in the place where it is not spoken.
He said they agreed with the Department of Basic Education that the language will be introduced to all schools in the Govan Mbeki municipal area from next year.
“We want all IsiNdebele speaking and other ethnic groups who want their children to learn IsiNdebele at school to go register them. We want all Ndebele’s to stop being ashamed of speaking the language in public.
“Our language is one of the official languages in the country and we are fighting with those who are trying to suppress it,” said Chief Mahlangu.
Endumbeni Cultural and Creative Art Centre said the song will heal and bring hope to all citizens facing Covid-19 in this country.
They are planning that the heritage celebration be done annually at Rasibe Garden and they will introduce different cultures.
“Its our responsibility to teach our children about the importance of tradition, customs and culture. Here at eMbalenhle our youth gets involved in drugs and criminal activities because parents shifted from our responsibilities.
“Different African cultures teach respect and responsibility, we don’t know where some of our township’s youth learn what they are doing,” said Mr Sibanyoni.
“We at Rasibe Garden want them to use the facility to find themselves by bringing different people from different cultures who will teach them on how to behave according to their ethnic history,” said Mr Sibanyoni.
According to the Endumbeni Cultural and Creative Art Centre, the collaboration song will be released soon and will be played on different radio stations.
It will also be available on social media platforms for downloads.
