San Community celebrates International Mother Language Day and Silver Jubilee through Ibhoro Festival
By Providence Moyo
Tsholotsho, Zimbabwe — The San community in Tsholotsho gathered to celebrate International Mother Language Day and their silver jubilee through the Ibhoro festival, which was held on Wednesday in Gariya. The event aimed to promote and preserve the San language and culture while also commemorating 25 years of milestones and achievements.
“We are proud to celebrate our language and culture, which are an integral part of our identity,” said Davy Ndlovu, a San rights defender. “The Ibhoro festival is a significant event for us, as it allows us to showcase our traditions and customs to the world.”
San Chief Goledema emphasized the importance of preserving the San language, saying, “Our language is our heritage, and it’s essential that we pass it down to future generations. We must continue to speak our language, teach it to our children, and promote it in our communities.”
The Ibhoro festival featured traditional music, dance, and storytelling, all of which highlighted the rich cultural heritage of the San community. The event also provided a platform for community members to share their experiences and challenges in promoting and preserving their language and culture.
The successful celebration of the Ibhoro festival and silver jubilee was made possible through the generous support of Palms for Life Fund. Their contribution enabled the San community to come together and showcase their unique cultural identity.
International Mother Language Day is celebrated annually on February 21 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity. The San community’s celebration of this day through the Ibhoro festival demonstrates their commitment to preserving their unique cultural identity.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate our silver jubilee and International Mother Language Day,” said Chief Goledema. “We will continue to work towards promoting and preserving our language and culture, and we invite others to join us in promoting linguistic and cultural diversity.”
