Open-Day – get there!

Education
I remember talking to my friends one day and one
of them asked me if I am Zulu since I speak Zulu so
fluently. My reply was that I am not a Zulu. I am an
Ndebele. I was so embarrassed as I could not even
utter one Ndebele word or even write one down.
I went back home a thought about it deeply. I
personally think it is embarrassing to say you are an
Ndebeld only by surname.
I don’t want to play the blame game but I think
parents need to step up and teach their kids about
their roots. It is no use enriching and promoting
another language while rejecting and looking down
on your own.
Here in South Africa we have eleven official
languages. There is a reason why all those languages
are recognized as being official rather than one
language such as English or Afrikaans. It is important
to emphasize that South Africa is not a monolingual
society.
Many black people think that speaking English is
being intelligent or it is something that has to be
highly praised especially in young black people.
Why don’t we take pride in your own culture and
heritage? Why don’t we greet in IsiNdebele, Zulu or
Tsonga for example?
You find most young people talking to each other in
English whereas they can speak with one another in
their own African languages. It doesn’t help mastering
a language that is not your own while neglecting your
own mother tongue. It is like throwing your own
identity away.
Some young black people even go to extremes of
changing the pronunciation of their surnames to
make them sound more American. You’ll find that
a person’s surname is Zwane, but when he or she
pronounces it, it’s like “Zwe-yne” which is totally
wrong.
Slowly but surely African languages are dying in South
Africa. I understand very well that English is a global
language. Whereby at least every person must be
able to write and understand English but, because
of identity we ought to know our language as well.
Some may argue that it us not important to know
your indigenous language as a black youth these days.
I talked to my sister about this issue and she said
“everything revolves around English. When you
communicate in English people understand you
better, it is easy for people to listen to you and respect
you. When you talk your indigenous languages it
becomes as if you are not educated. People won’t
even look at you.”
She further made an interesting point that she writes
her subject exams in English and job interviews are
conducted in English. She concluded to say I should
stop blaming black youth for abandoning their
mother tongue; I should blame the education system.
I completely disagree. If my sis continues with this
mentality then her kids are in deep trouble. Because
cultural heritage and knowledge is passed on
throughout each generation by language and actions,
language is integral in affirming and maintaining wellbeing,
self esteem and a strong sense of identity in
a person.
Not enough is being done at schools to promote
indigenous languages. We find that black people have
to learn Afrikaans because some instructions will be
carried out in Afrikaans. In black schools learning
English is compulsory for all learners.
Children should be taught their mother tongues.
Speaking indigenous languages at home will go a long
way. There is a time and place where it is necessary to
speak English such as in job interviews.
The media promotes America as the “wow” country.
Youth envy that. Young minds get influenced easily.
The importance of learning English and speaking
English competently for all South Africans is not
disputed.
However, it is equally important for all South Africans
to recognize the languages that were spoken in South
Africa years ago. It is in my heart that everyone will
take pride in his or her language as I am also learning
IsiNdebele.
One’s language is ownership, it is what we know as
people, it is how people identify themselves, it is our
community bond. Language recognizes and identifies
you, who you are and what your are all about.
Know your language first before learning others.
Know it, understand it and relate to it.
And most of all, be proud of it!
I am Mbalenhle Augustine Sikosana-Jali lika
Thamane, a pround Ndebele and I love my
language.
>>>HOLA MAHIGH-SCHOOL
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