03 Oct 2017

The Assistant Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development, Kefentse Mzwinila has emphasised the importance of teaching children their languages and culture to preserve them. 

Speaking during the well attended Basubiya festival known as Cisiya Nkulu in Kavimba recently, he tasked elders to teach children their languages saying that played a role in defining who they were. 

Cisiya Nkulu is translated as “What was left behind by our elders” and the Veekuhane popularly known as Basubiya come together to celebrate their heritage together with fellow ethnic groups from the neighbouring Namibia as well as the Kgosi of Basubiya Munitenge Maiba II. 

The festival was held under the theme:Let us know one another. Mzwinila reminded those who had attended the festival that his ministry encouraged heritage and culture. 

“When it comes to culture, you are the most impressive in this region and I commend the Cisiya Nkulu organisers for such hard work for this annual event,” he said. He however advised them to develop the land they have been allocated for events and ask for the community to help in any way they could and also reach out to the government to help them develop the site. 

Kgosi Nzehengwa Mwezi of Kavimba said the main aim of the festival was to revive what was left behind by their elders so that they had unity in their ethnic groups. 

He however expressed concern at the non-attendance of other dikgosi from the Chobe District saying it showed lack of support. 

Kgosi Mwezi further thanked the assistant minister for the support and for attending their event after being invited at short notice. 

Chobe MP, Machana Shamukuni encouraged Basubiya to host more events in order to sustain their culture and also thanked the assistant minister for his presence. 

Cisiya Nkulu is an annual event, which started in 2009 and this year, the event was different as it ran for three consecutive days.ENDS