Ndebele King, Bulelani Khumalo, has emphasised the importance of cultural revival while calling on political figures to respect and support the traditional efforts currently underway across Matabeleland and beyond.
During an exclusive interview, King Bulelani voiced his concerns about the frequent misinterpretations that occur between those who preserve culture and political leaders.
“Our hope is that politicians should stay composed as we revive culture; this endeavor is not about engaging in politics,” he stated.
“This is because at times we feel they come close that’s where we cross each other, yet no, we are just doing our culture.”
The king, who has been at the forefront of cultural restoration efforts in the region, explained the wide-reaching mobilisation programs currently being implemented.
These programmes target various groups including teenage girls, young boys, and warriors, with the aim of nurturing cultural identity and values from a young age.
“We are doing a mobilisation program where we mobilise warriors, teenage girls and young boys aimed at reviving our culture through catching them young,” he explained.
“The most vibrant places through this programme are Insuza, Tsholotsho, Binga, Chiredzi , and Plumtree, which is really doing well, but we don’t have warriors yet.
“We are working on it.”
The king stressed the urgency of instilling cultural values in the youth while elders still have the opportunity to pass them on.
“We are catching them young because we don’t want this to die with us,” he said.
“We are now old and we want to plant it for the younger generation to practice and share it to the other generation when we are gone.”
Apart from revitalizing culture, this initiative aims to recognize and nurture young talents particularly in fields such as art, academia, and athletics.
“In this manner, we will be able to identify the skills these children possess. Once we secure funding, we can determine how to support them via sponsorships and help make their dreams a reality,” King Bulelani said additionally.
However, he voiced deep concern over the performance of schools in the region, highlighting low academic results and the diminishing presence of local youth in national sporting arenas.
“We are displeased with the performance of our schools and concerned about the low pass rates,” he stated.
We are equally displeased with both their academic performance and sporting accomplishments.
We don’t find our children represented in the national team when there are soccer matches or any other sporting events at the national level.
Citing examples such as Peter Ndlovu, the monarch emphasized the significance of fostering homegrown skills to create transformative chances for growth.
“Once we secure the funding, our aim is to assist them in achieving their aspirations, enabling them to support themselves financially someday,” he mentioned additionally.
This brings to mind Peter Ndlovu and others. Their skill carried them to great heights, and we wish the same for these young kids.
He said they also now focused on the upcoming Mhlahlandlela memorial event scheduled for September 6.
The event honours the memory of King Mzilikazi, the founder of the Mthwakazi nation.
“This will be a very big event this year,” he said.
“We also urge the people of Mthwakazi to stand up and support issues to do with their culture and tradition.”
He issued a heartfelt call to the broader Mthwakazi community to take responsibility for cultural revival, reflecting on the powerful legacy of past leaders.
“When things are like this and people don’t care, it’s not good. I am requesting that we stand up and support each other,” King Bulelani said.
As the traditional leadership spearheads these cultural programs, their hope is clear: to restore pride, dignity, and opportunity to the people of Mthwakazi—starting with the youth.
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