Celebrating heritage in Gamalakhe
Khawula said young girls within Ray Nkonyeni Municipality almost failed to make to the 2022 Reed Dance in Nongoma because of a lack of transport.
A Heritage Day celebration was held at the KwaXaba Hall in Ward 27 in Gamalakhe on Friday, last week.
The event was hosted by the Port Shepstone Museum.
According to Thembi Khawula of Ray Nkonyeni Municipality’s Department of Arts and Culture, the idea of hosting the event in Gamalakhe came after Ward 27 councillor, Mdumiseni Cele asked them to host the Heritage Day celebration in his ward.
Khawula said Cele wanted to familiarise the Ward 27 community with all things heritage, history, maritime and multi-cultural norms.
Speaking on multi-cultural norms, Khawula said young girls within Ray Nkonyeni Municipality almost failed to make it to the 2022 Reed Dance in Nongoma because of a lack of transport.
She said it was through the help of Ray Nkonyeni Municipality mayor, Sikhumbuzo Mqadi that the young maidens were able to get to Enyokeni Royal Palace.
“Other municipalities are currently accounting to the powers that may be as to why the young girls from their respective areas did not make it to the reed dance so we are grateful to the mayor for making sure that transportation was available for the girls,” said Khawula, adding that the Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation is the one that struggled with providing transport, as a result young maidens from KwaMavundla Tribal Authority and KwaNdwalane Tribal Authority.
Meanwhile, Ray Nkonyeni Municipality mayor Sikhumbuzo Mqadi said they had to come to the rescue of the young maidens as the reed dance forms a huge part of our heritage.
Mqadi told Khawula that moving forward, he will propose that Ray Nkonyeni Municipality council sets aside something from its annual budget for the municipality’s Department of Arts and Culture.
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