Prelene Singh
Ubuntu Concepts, in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Kaya FM and Brand South Africa’s Play Your Part initiative, held the second Ubuntu Sessions dialogue to create a platform for young people to engage with African leaders and change makers.
#UbuntuSessions taking place at Kaya House. The theme of this evening’s dialogue is ‘Diverse languages as an instrument of nation building’
— NelsonMandela (@NelsonMandela) October 16, 2014
Keynote speakers of the event included Bonga “Imbongi” Siyoko, a praise singer who performs in isiXhosa; Kgosi Motshidi, a copywriter at McCann World Group; Dr Kim Wallmach, head of the Wits School of Languages; and Tebogo Ditshego, CEO of Ditshego Media.
@bob959 reminding the #UbuntuSessions audience about the ‘how’ not the ‘what’ cc @PlayYourPartSA @UbuntuConcepts pic.twitter.com/7r2B6nB2gp
— Onke Dumeko (@Onke) October 16, 2014
Bob Mabena, radio guru and facilitator of the event, took the audience through the night with great insights and summaries of the role language plays in nation building.
“@kiki_Zibi: like what @TebogoDitshego said about teaching our children where our languages come from #UbuntuSessions #KhayaFM.”
— WITStranslate (@witstranslate) October 17, 2014
Wallmach: “South Africans are unable to do business in any other language apart from English & that is unacceptable” #UbuntuSessions
— Play Your Part (@PlayYourPartSA) October 16, 2014
A topic which filtered through the discussion after Wallmach spoke about translation was the notion that our children do not consider learning other people’s languages because it is not “sexy” enough or appealing to them. This results in Africans not being able to do business with themselves in any other language apart from English.
@bob959 language is ever-changing ever-evolving & language builds identity #UbuntuSessions cc @UbuntuConcepts
— Play Your Part (@PlayYourPartSA) October 16, 2014
@witstranslate: we need to speak more of our languages freely & openly #UbuntuSessions #UbuntuInsights Merci Becoup Madam
— #UbuntuSessions (@UbuntuConcepts) October 17, 2014
@TebogoDitshego: sometimes you need to be impractical about teaching your language #UbuntuSessions #UbuntuInsights Xie Xie Nin Xhiansheng
— #UbuntuSessions (@UbuntuConcepts) October 17, 2014
Mabena emphasised the motif that ran through the mouths of many who attended the event being that language has changed over time and constantly changes and its up to us to keep up with the changes and constantly challenge ourselves to learn the languages of our neighbours.
Do small things to promote your language @TebogoDitshego #ubuntusessions #unitedlanguages #SouthAfrica @UbuntuConcepts @Brand_SA @kayafm
— Masego Mosiane (@Massy_Gee) October 16, 2014
Lets teach our kids where our languages originate from @TebogoDitshego #ubuntusessions @UbuntuConcepts @Brand_SA @kayafm #iamanafrican
— Masego Mosiane (@Massy_Gee) October 16, 2014
Motshidi: “SA is beautiful, its got many languages which creates diversity & lets enjoy them & learn each others languages” #UbuntuSessions
— Prelene Singh (@Prelene_Singh) October 16, 2014
Another question brought up by audience members was the fact that sign language is not recognised as an official language.
[1/2] An audience asks why is sign language not recognised as an official language #UbuntuSessions cc @UbuntuConcepts @kayafm95dot9
— Play Your Part (@PlayYourPartSA) October 16, 2014
[2/2] What is wrong with deaf people that their language is not recognised as the 12th official language #UbuntuSessions cc @UbuntuConcepts
— Prelene Singh (@Prelene_Singh) October 16, 2014
The take away message from the night was knowing your culture, knowing your roots and adjusting what you know to work for you as a South African citizen. Be an active participant in communicating with your peers and have a multilingual tongue which aids you in being an integrated member of society.
Ditshego: “Languages can unify us but it can also separate us” #UbuntuSessions cc @UbuntuConcepts @kayafm95dot9
— Play Your Part (@PlayYourPartSA) October 16, 2014
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