24 Sep 2019

University of Namibia, Assistant Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Bennett Kangumu says the new cultural order of setting aside the communal values such as civility, hard work, responsibility and general goodwill has had negative effects in the society.

He said this during the 13th Veekuhane cultural celebration themed; Quality leadership to Vekuhane 50 years and beyond at Kavimba on September 21. The festival has been held since 2004.

Dr Kangumu said the new cultural order had led to increase in teenage pregnancies, Gender Based Violence (GBV), murders, rising drug and alcohol consumption, criminal activities and other evils in the society as the African moral values collapsed.

He observed that today’s parents neglected their responsibility of instilling moral uprightness and  imparting acceptable cultural norms and values on their children.

“Social media has become the new parents and the problem with that is not much cultural content relevant to our situations is available on such mediums,” he said.

Dr Kangumu beseeched the elderly not to grow weary or lose hope on the young generation in terms of imparting cultural knowledge and encouraged the youth to take keen interest in learning about their culture.

The guest speaker said the youth must change their perceptions about their culture as it was not about the past only but also about how people live presently.

He said young people needed to start viewing their cultures as source of livelihood and ensure cultural enterprises flourished through cultural tourism and bridged the gap between cultural production and cultural consumption.

Dr Kamungu noted that while there was advocacy for cultural preservation, negative ancient cultural practices that go against present day democratic beliefs must be discouraged.

He cited that practices such as old man marrying under-age girls and women being denied inheritance of land should be discouraged.

“Our cultures must adapt to the evolving nature of our present world,” he said.

On other issues, Dr Kamungu said as Basubia celebrate 50 years of Munitenge Maiba II Sinvula’s leadership they must appreciate the formation of the Cisiya Nkulu Trust to be the champion of the preservation of Subia language and culture, the revamping of relationship between Basubia in Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe and the recognition of the Basubia as a tribal community under the Botswana’s Bogosi Act of 2008.

He said the cultural festival and all its associated cultural aspects were worthy of preserving because they did not only define who Basubia were in the changing world but continued to be a viable source of livelihood by creating employment and even restoring the dignity of the people of the area and the country at large.

In his address Munitenge Sinvula explained that Basubia called themselves Veekuhane and Basubia was a nickname that they were given by others.

He said in Namibia the name Veekuhane was the one used to refer to Basubia.

Mr Sinvula said Veekuhane had their special dress for girls and women called mushishi and the dress was now commonly used during the Chiperu dance.

He encouraged the Veekuhane to preserve their language and encourage their children to speak it at their homes adding that he was hopeful that it would be taught in schools in future.

“I am sure other cultures in Botswana wish the same for their languages,” he said.

He explained that Cisiya Nkulu meant that which was left by the ancestors and he encouraged the Basubia to ensure the preservation of all aspects of their culture. Ends