King Toni Mphephu-Ramabulana celebrated the victory of the tshikona dance groups who won the Radzambo and Phalaphala FM traditional dance contest at his traditional kraal shortly before the Christmas break.

He urged everyone to be united in the preservation of culture and encouraged families to teach their young ones the history of the Venda people, so that it would not be forgotten.

King Toni described it as sad that children and even some parents seemed to be proud of the fact that their children could not pronounce Venda words but only spoke English at home. “Let us invest in our children and, by doing so, we will be investing in the future of the country,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of special cultural days and said that a nation without respect for its culture was doomed and had no future. “Other nations have their special days to celebrate their culture. We cannot be left behind, and we will continue to be in the forefront of cultural revival,” he said.

He also described traditional leaders as the pillars of the communities. “It is important to give them the dignity they deserve. We can build a prosperous nation through faith and dedication, but it is also important to put our differences aside and work towards the same goal of nation building.”

Chief Livhuwani Matsila, who was the sponsor of the traditional culture competition, said that there was a need to teach young children about the value of culture and the importance of restoring it. "Culture and tradition are the foundation on which the prosperity of each nation starts. It is important to continue with initiatives of this nature for the sake of our children. A nation that does not respect its culture is doomed and does not have any direction."

Matsila further encouraged community members to be proud of their cultural practices. "By doing so, it will assist in the government’s drive to restore the community’s morals and culture."