“Culture and tradition the foundation of a nation”

"Culture and tradition are the foundation on which the prosperity for each nation starts,” said Thovhele Vho-Nthumeni Masia.

He was a speaker during the cultural day at Masia and celebration of mukumbi a fortnight ago.

Different cultural dances of the Vhavenda, Tsonga and Pedi, namely Xibela, Tshigombela, Xitaitai, Xigumbu, Malende and Shikhamba were demonstrated during the event.

Masia said that the traditional council had been established to provide an opportunity to different communities to exercise their culture. "The main purpose is to form partnerships with different communities," he said.

He added that the traditional leaders were serious about restoring culture and indigenous knowledge and commended the organisers for the initiative of reviving culture through traditional dances.

He appealed to the youth to respect elderly people and stated that Africans must be proud of themselves, their culture and traditions. He stressed the fact that immorality is the enemy of traditional leaders since people have moved away from good morals.

 “We must start practising our culture of being proud, so that our children will grow up knowing their identity,” he said. Masia criticised parents who are not teaching their children their own vernacular.

He mentioned that the marula festive season is an essential element to Limpopo’s economic growth."I have to indicate that while we industrialize the product, it is imperative for us as the custodians of our heritage to also promote the traditional ways of making  marula beer. For many centuries it has been a common factor for communal gatherings, thereby playing a role in nation building and social cohesion," he said.

Date:19 March 2015

By: Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

Read: 5377