It is the year to celebrate indigenous languages

Adv Kagiso Maphalle, National Heritage Council

Wendy Ntshakala and Nontobeko Zondi

The United Nations has declared 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages. According to the UN: “Languages are not only our first medium for communication, education and social integration, but they are also at the heart of each person’s unique identity, cultural history and memory. The ongoing loss of indigenous languages is particularly devastating, as the complex knowledge and cultures they foster are increasingly being recognised as strategic resources for good governance, peacebuilding, reconciliation and sustainable development. More importantly, such losses have huge negative impacts on indigenous peoples’ most basic human rights.”

Language and culture are important aspects that should remain significant to one’s life. Through language you can express yourself, influence people’s perceptions, influence community and identity. In honoring the 2019 year of Indigenous Languages, the Department of Arts and Culture, in partnership with the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) held a panel discussion on human rights on Tuesday, 19 March at the Desmond Tutu Great Hall.

The panelists

The crux of the discussion was promoting and preserving indigenous languages as a human right. The panelists were: Ms Tsoana Nhlapo, CEO: Sharpeville Foundation; Adv Kagiso Maphalle, National Heritage Council; Cllr Gift Moerane, Executive Mayor: Emfuleni Local Municipality; Professor Somadoda Fikeni, Human Rights Commission; Mr Brian Makenketha, Human Rights Commission and Mr Vusimuzi Mkhize, Director General: Department of Arts and Culture.

Cllr Moerane, Executive Mayor said that there is a dichotomy when it comes to how the language can be used: “Language can be a problem if used negatively. Self-determination is important when it comes to language and culture, this simply means it can never be easy for one to lose his or her identity and culture roots if they know who they are and where they come from.”

Adv Maphalle and Ms Nhlapo shared the same sentiments on culture, referring to it being promoted in media, and that language should not be limited – especially when translating words from African languages into English, such as during television programmes or court cases. Words should be directly translated with their exact meaning and not be manipulated to suit the media content. This would ensure that the essence of the word and culture would not fade away.

In closing, Mr Mkhize said that land, culture and languages connect a person to the “being” which is their identity. He also challenged the students to start writing books, be it fiction or non-fiction.

During the apartheid era many South Africans lost their sense of value, confidence and pride in being who they are. This affected them psychologically as it made them think Africans were not recognised as human beings as they had been subjected to slavery and injustice for many years. In 1994, when South Africa gained political freedom, people also gained their cultural freedom.

“We are all born free and equal” is one of the human rights that was emphasised during the event. It concluded that it is vital for Africans to take responsibility in ensuring that we live in a diverse country that appreciates and embraces the different cultures and languages.

Mr Joseph Norman Radebe who has been central in bringing these collaborative community engagement initiatives and interventions to VUT, indicated in his closing remarks that VUT has been identified by the Department of Arts and Culture as one of the lead universities that will co-host most of the National Commemorative days at no cost to the university and this is as a direct output of his voluntary work and active engagement as a Social Cohesion and Nation Building Ambassador at National Level, he further highlighted that the Department of Arts and Culture has pledged to sponsor VUT students who are pursuing their studies in the field of indigenous and African languages with bursaries and scholarships.