Mbeki calls for preservation of indigenous languages (fwd)

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Mbeki calls for preservation of indigenous languages

President Mbeki wants traditional leaders, to stop indigenous languages
from disappearing

April 07, 2005, 17:00
http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/general/0,2172,101617,00.html

President Thabo Mbeki wants traditional leaders to stop indigenous
languages from disappearing. Mbeki was speaking at the annual opening
of the National House of Traditional Leaders in Cape Town today.

Mbeki says he is very concerned that African languages and traditions
are lapsing in both rural and urban areas. Mbeki says African pride
shines when people express their culture in the way they dress, the
traditions they uphold and the languages they speak. But these are in
danger of being pushed aside.

The president says at school level, fewer and fewer of African children
are taking African languages as subjects. He says many young people are
more in tune with Western trends. Hence in many instances it is easy for
the youth to identify with rock stars from places they have never seen.
He called on traditional leaders to bring back language and tradition.
He says they should work with communities, government departments and
the private sector to raise the importance of African languages.

Mbeki also wants to see festivals celebrating traditions, songs and
dances becoming a regular feature in cities and rural areas
countrywide. This has been welcomed by the traditional leaders.