Maseko Ngoni to launch Isi Zulu school in Lilongwe

The Maseko Ngoni of Lilongwe chapter will launch Isi Zulu school on 30 April at Chinsapo Township which is aiming at promoting culture among the Ngoni youth.

President of the Maseko Ngoni Andrew Kamulopa Chisale said they have thought of introducing the school because they were missing the traditional culture of their grandparents.

“We have lost our identity mainly through language so we need to revamp our culture the way our grandparents were doing in the past,” Kamulopa said.

He further said they are targeting the youth because it is easy for kids to learn or understand a thing at their age.

“If we keep teaching our kids about our culture values it will show our identification and people will start to understand the Ngoni tribe,” Kamulopa said.

He added that the school programme has been taken to the six zones (area36, 23, 25, 49, Chinsapo and Kaliyeka) to accommodate all the Ngoni youth from different areas, moving away from Lilongwe Government School which was a hub of all the learners.

“We are implementing these schools in all our Ngoni zones and we have set up a committee which comprises teachers who know Ngoni language to teach the kids,” Kamulopa said.

Kamulopa said to make sure that they will not be any disturbance to the kids with their education; they have set the class to be conducted during weekends and holidays when they are not attending school.

He asked people in the country to teach their children about their culture so that they must understand where they are coming from.

“Let us teach our children about our culture, that’s the only way they can grow up with good manners that they can respect the elders. We like copying other countries cultures and this has bad effect on them,” he said.

In her remarks, Chairperson for the school program, Chrissie Kamwana said everything to do with preparation and planning is well set which will make things easier to both the children and elders who want to learn about Ngoni culture and language.

“We are geared to take this language school far. Let me say that adding language to our well known attires will be very great and that we turn ourselves to real Ngonis,” Kamwana said.

To make sure that the program materializes they have engaged Chalira Ntchezi as the Head teacher and each zone has been given at least two teachers.

“We have already engaged seven teachers with vast experience in Isi Zulu and they have promised to walk with us through to the end,” Kamwana added.

She further explained that youth are being targeted because apart from being fast learners and posses high memory, they want also to equip them to be genuine future culture custodian.

“The language is simple to learn. Following the example of the bible which say teach the children because there is a lot of unwritten space in mind next generation of the Ngoni will learn from them,” said Kamwana.

Kamwana asked parents to allow their children fully participate in the Ngoni language school to allow them among other things learn Ngoni songs, way of living dressing and other key issues.

“Experts in knitting Ngoni regalia and other cultural materials are also identified so at break time our Ngoni youngster shall be drilled in that,” she pointed out.

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