The Kalanga people will tomorrow celebrate Unity Day in style by marching in the streets of Plumtree town celebrating their language and culture.
TjiKalanga, spoken in four districts – Bulilima, Mangwe, Matobo and Tsholotsho – is one of the previously marginalised indigenous languages of Zimbabwe.
The new constitution of the country adopted in 2013 accords TjiKalanga, now taught at some schools, official status.
Tshidzanani Malaba, one of the organisers of the show dubbed: “BuKalanga Road Show” told CITE preparations for the event starting at 8:30 am by Thekwane Road, Kumpani were at an advanced stage.
“We are ready for take-off,” said Malaba.
“Thanks to the support we are getting from the community and local leadership. The police have authorised and they will escort us to make sure that residents enjoy our show and everyone is safe. It is the first of its kind. We are grateful for the constitutional provision and the liberties that the current government has bestored. It makes us proud to be Zimbabweans whose voice is being heard in pot of mixed languages and cultures of this country.”
The day, Malaba said, was chosen because of its relevance in unifying Zimbabweans in their diversity as communities and a country.
“It’s an acknowledgement of our existence in a melting pot and community,” said Malaba.
“We are oftentimes asked ‘who are we and where do we come from? We are therefore saying: Hear us, embrace us and be part of us. History has omitted us yet we are the bedrock of many. Let’s unite and discover!”
The day, Malaba said is also convenient for many as they take time to be closer home to their families.
The programme for the day will involve talks, entertainment, police escorted march around Plumtree and the distribution of awareness fliers.
“It (the show) is dubbed “Bukalanga Roadshow” meaning that it is for everyone who is in this community,” elaborated Malaba.
“All residents and visitors are invited to participate.”
The show, Malaba said, seeks to make the community and the nation at large appreciate that there is a community called Bakalanga.
“They must hear our story from us,” he said.
“We expect an entourage of 50 to 100 people. The numbers could swell and reduce depending on the activity of the moment.”
The objectives of the Bukalanga Roadshow, Malaba said, are among others to promote the use and teaching of TjiKalanga in homes, workplaces, schools (primary, secondary, high) and in tertiary institutions to encourage parents to speak TjiKalanga with their children as a way of preserving the language and culture.
“We want to unite BaKalanga from different geographic locations,” explained Malaba.
“We want to showcase our culture and language, to practically lobby for the equalisation of TjiKalanga with all other languages in Zimbabwe, by the government institutions, NGOs, and among others and to lobby for the correction of some misspelt Kalanga names of places.”
