Tshisinanne Nemungadi, founder of the Mukhuthu Arts Culture Foundation based in Ha-Masakona, wants to address the importance of culture and how young people from different cultural groups should conduct themselves in their daily lives.
Nemungadi said that the purpose of his foundation, which was established in 2019, was to promote culture among Vhavenda-, Xitsonga- and Bapedi-speaking youths from the Vhembe area. His foundation recently visited some of the local villages to encourage young people to start forming traditional dance groups.
"The foundation is serious about reviving culture and indigenous knowledge through traditional dances. We feel there is a need for a cultural school as it would teach the young ones their roots and their identity. There would be no heritage if parents do not become responsible and take charge of their children's lives. Our country is rotten to the core; youths roam the streets aimlessly and engage in unbecoming activities. Immorality has become the enemy of traditional leaders since people started to move away from good morals. I want to ensure that the indigenous dances of our forefathers do not fade away. The older people must restore what is being taken away from our young children by teaching them traditional dances and culture, which is fast fading away," said Nemungadi.
He appealed to the youth to respect their culture and elderly people. "Africans must be proud of themselves, their culture and traditions, the foundation from which the prosperity of each nation starts. We must start practicing our culture, so that young people will grow up knowing where they came from. It is important to continue with initiatives of this nature for the sake of our children," he said.