Taking pride in tradition

Even though the current generation seems to care less about culture and tradition, the Funyufunyu Cultural Project is keen to preserve the Tshivenda culture and determined to teach the youngsters about the origin of their culture.

The group was founded in 2003 at Funyufunyu village in Nzhelele, with the aim of teaching and educating tourists and children about the culture of the Vhavenda people. The group now has about 21 female members and has taken part in many cultural events, including the popular Phalaphala cultural dances.

One of the group members, Ms Matodzi Thinavhuyo, said that everyone who wanted to learn was welcome, especially young people “We have to hold onto our culture and teach our children, so that the legacy can live on,” she said. “We have come a long way with this and we can’t give up now.”

The cultural group is still facing a lot of challenges and they have called on members of the public to assist them with funding to renovate their traditional garments and to provide them with dziNgoma, minwenda and mirumba.

The group members said they also used the traditional dances as part of exercising and to fight lifestyle diseases.

People who want to assist the Funyufunyu Cultural Project can phone Ms Tshililo Tshishonga at 072 670 8265 and Ms Mukumela Doboro at 076 580 0049.

Entertainment - Date: 19 November 2017

Maanda Bele

Maanda  Bele, born and raised in Nzhelele Siloam, studied journalism at the Tshwane University of Technology.

He is passionate about current news and international affairs.

He worked as part of the Zoutnet team as an intern in 2017.

He is currently a freelance journalist specialising in news from the Vhembe district.

Email: [email protected]