TULANI NGWENYA
4th February 2021
SOUTH AFRICA – Thulisile Bhuda’s has published an IsiNdebele children book called Kwekwezi’s Cultural Mural Art which has been published at a time when instruction of learners using indigenous languages is still frowned upon and viewed with some suspicion.
It is based on a true life story of a Ndebele art custodian’s journey to become an artist. Creatively written, the book explores how a young girl discovers her calling and real identity as a mural artist.
The communicative process of the narrative also makes use of powerful colorful illustrations that depict indigenous AmaNdebele people in Mpumalanga, their architectural designs, art and attires.
In an interview with The Tswana Times, the writer Thulisile Buda indicated that, she wanted to write exciting stories about African cultures using indigenous languages for local children to learn their true identity and also about who their ancestors are and also their origins.
“I want to preserve culture and heritage, which is hidden and stored in African languages. African languages are at the point of being eroded and teaching the younger generation about the importance of preserving Indigenous languages is a tool of protecting them,” Buda told The Tswana Times.
Kwekwezi’s cultural mural art demonstrates the preservation of local knowledge systems in its most basic form. The author succeeds in depicting the local cultural way of life and presenting the indigenous knowledge in basic forms meant for young ones to better understand and also for future generations of AmaNdebele in South Africa to learn from.
“In South Africa, indigenous languages have a future because we as indigenous people are working hard in preserving them. We as citizens also need assistance from government to create policies that protect these languages. Furthermore, indigenous languages should be considered as medium of instruction in schools so that learners get to learn school content in their own languages,” Buda pointed out.
She went to say that, “By developing ways and strategies that are fun and exciting for young people to participate in. The aim will be promoting indigenous languages and teaching the youth the importance of knowing their own languages.
It is very important for young people to understand their languages are not primitive or old fashioned. Rather, they contain wisdom and knowledge of our ancestors hence they need to be protected.”
In South Africa, traditional knowledge issues in various fields are important to human survival and the quality of life, including agriculture, health, sanitation and water.
Buda is a 28 year old female from KwaNdebele and also a culture activist, indigenous scholar and currently a PhD candidate in indigenous Knowledge Systems with the North-West University.
