Students support African culture preservation Some UZ students pose while wearing African attire

Reginald Chirenje

Youth Interactive Writer

“Participation in traditional cultural performances at certain events or activities such as Africa Day and independence anniversaries holds great importance that is vital in preserving our culture. African culture has to be taught to the next generation in order for it to survive.

As the continent celebrated culture week, university students were also took part in celebrations of African identity through cultural events.

Culture reflects the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of a population that are passed down from generation to generation. It has been called the way of life for an entire society which includes codes of manners, dressing, language, religion, rituals and food itself.

“Culture and its history are morals, beliefs and aims. They form people’s national identity. It is essential for us the young generation to preserve our cultural heritage so as to maintain our identity as a nation” said Nicole Natsai Chimanikire, one of the students.

The importance of preserving culture and heritage is the knowledge of it being passed down one generation to the next. The value of this is extremely important for the minority groups and bigger nations as well.

“If our elderly people continue to let culture and heritage die out, the future generations will become less dynamic, therefore it is our duty as the young and energetic generation to keep on practicing our cultural activities through our languages, dressing, the type of food, norms and values on a daily basis not only to wait for African week once a year” Tinotenda Ndayima added.

Even though preservation of African culture in this 21st century has become very difficult due to globalisation, one of the ways in which African culture can be preserved is through the restoration of historical sites in the nation, such as Great Zimbabwe which is a reflection of the Shona way of living.

Featuring of heroes portraits on local currency, declaration of national dress code and enactment of historical statues nationwide, are other ways of upholding African culture. In Zimbabwe, the building of Joshua Nkomo and Mbuya Nehanda’s statues,  the design of the $50 note, for example, are a clear indication of how the nation is working towards preservation of nation’s culture and heritage.

 “As the young blood, it is our task to preserve our culture through upholding the values of Ubuntu that is unity and humanness which has always been part of African philosophy” said Liberty Chiduku, another student.

Ubuntu fosters oneness among the people and unity leads people to have the same goal which will eventually result in the preservation of African culture as one.

In this modern world filled with technological advancement, media plays an extremely important role in creating awareness and building an appreciation towards the local culture and traditions.

A nation has to preserve its culture and heritage by introducing these two into the education curriculum. Teaching the future generation the significance of culture should be encouraged and guarded safely through knowledge.

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