Damasane made the following remarks while speaking at the Midlands Provincial Culture Week launch held on 26th May at Gonawapotera Secondary School in Chirumhanzu.
“Nowadays, we adopt several cultures and seem to forget many of our traditions and cultural values. The old traditions and value systems are forgotten and are being replaced with new value systems from all over the world. This may be good for some, but respecting one’s own culture and upholding it is still a major responsibility,†said a clear spoken Damasane.
Damasane, a renowned national poet, described ‘culture’ as the way a person speaks, and behaves, how a person responds to incidents and events and the personal conduct and manners of a person.
“Culture has a very important effect and impact on the personal growth of individuals and of a community. When there is no common culture, it manifests in society as a lack of common understanding of what is right and what is wrong. A person’s culture, when practised and followed, will enable them to live better lives,†he said.
Damasane further explained that the 2016 culture week focused on increasing community participation in culture related programmes in order to strengthen the spirit of unity, cohesion and oneness of the country’s people.
He believes that we should not embrace western culture to the detriment of our own as our own culture gives us our great identity: “Be proud of it, protect it and uphold it!â€
Provincial Arts Manager for the Midlands, Abagirl Sivanda, described the event as a great success that she attributed to Chirumhanzu’s local leadership. She also thanked the Provincial Administrator’s office for playing a major role in the provision of transport during the preparation of the event.
“The success of the event is due to local leadership involvement. They put their heads together, pooled their resources and managed all logistics including the provision of food. Our provincial budget was set at $6 000 thanks to the stakeholders’ efforts,†said Sivanda.
Sivanda commented that some Chirumhanzu artists obviously need assistance in establishing an inventory of and monetary value of their products, since most super refined articles of basketry and sculpture prices were unrealistic.
The event was attended by locals, legislators, the district administrator, the traditional chief and other government officials. Conspicuous by her absence was Provincial Education Director, Agness Gudo whose office had allegedly forbidden the event from taking place at Gonawapotera secondary school.
It boggles the mind as to why other schools in the province are exempt from hosting cultural events.
Post published in: Arts