Schoolchildren and community members gathered at Mhlahlandlela, on the outskirts of Bulawayo, on Friday for the start of the annual commemorations honouring King Mzilikazi, the founder of the Ndebele nation.
The two-day event brought together schools from across Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South for a programme centred on cultural heritage, history and the origins of the Ndebele people.
Organisers have placed children at the centre of this year’s commemorations, expanding an education programme introduced last year to give pupils more time to learn about Ndebele history and the significance of cultural and heritage sites.
One of the organisers, Liberty Ndaba, popularly known as MC Umahlabayithwale, said the education programme was introduced because children had previously had limited time to engage with the historical aspects of the commemorations.
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“Day one of the education started last year and this is our second year doing it at this event. We had agreed to dedicate only one day for education because on the official day the children won’t have time to learn about their history and where they come from,” he said.
Ndaba said this year’s programme had been expanded to provide children with a deeper understanding of King Mzilikazi’s background, including lessons from members of the Khumalo family.
“We brought someone from the Khumalo family, Msindi Khumalo, who was here to discuss and teach the children about King Mzilikazi because he is directly from the Mzilikazi family,” Ndaba said, adding this allowed children to hear directly from people with a familial connection to King Mzilikazi.
“We want the children to learn the history directly from the family and from people who have a direct connection to that history.”
Ndaba said the programme also focused on heritage sites and their importance to the Ndebele people, with pupils encouraged to understand the significance of the places associated with their history.
“We had further discussions on the heritage sites that we have and their importance. We had a deeper understanding of them and explained to the children what they mean to the Ndebele people,” he said.
The organisers also used the programme to explore King Mzilikazi’s role as a nation builder and the diverse communities that became part of the Ndebele nation.
Ndaba said the lessons sought to help children understand why King Mzilikazi is remembered not only as a historical figure, but also for his role in building a nation from different communities.
“We discussed the characteristics of why King Mzilikazi was a nation builder, as well as how he built the nation of the Venda, Ndebele, Kalanga and many more,” he said.
“We had to teach the children why King Mzilikazi was such a nation builder and why he deserved that status.”
The focus on educating children comes as cultural organisations increasingly seek to make sure younger generations remain connected to their history and heritage.
The organisers noted that the King Mzilikazi commemorations must not be limited to remembering a historical figure, but also create an opportunity for children to ask questions, engage with their history while developing an appreciation of the heritage sites and traditions associated with the Ndebele people.
The programme also provided a platform for schools from two Matabeleland provinces to participate in cultural activities while learning about the historical processes that shaped the Ndebele nation.
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