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DUT MIDLANDS STUDENT HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND RESIDENCE LIFE CELEBRATES ITS 1ST ANNUAL CULTURAL FESTIVAL

DUT MIDLANDS STUDENT HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND RESIDENCE LIFE CELEBRATES ITS 1ST ANNUAL CULTURAL FESTIVAL

“We are gathered this evening with the purpose of celebrating and educating each other about the multi-cultures that we have in South Africa. This event will assist students to acquire knowledge about the significance of learning and respecting the different cultures that we have within our country, at DUT and at student residences.”

These were the words of DUT Midlands Student Housing Manager, Mrs Celiwe Chemane-Nyathi when unpacking the purpose of the day during the 1st Annual Cultural Festival recently held at DUT Midlands Main Hall and virtually via Microsoft Teams.

It was a joyful day for both DUT staff and students as they had to celebrate and showcase their culture.

The esteemed guests who attended the event were Affirmative Portfolio Branch Manager; Miss Khule Zondi, DUT Midlands Student Housing Manager: Mrs Celiwe Chemane-Nyathi, Imbali Education and Innovation Precinct (IEIP) Manager: Mr Mfanozelwe Shozi, Executive Secretary to the DUT Midlands Campuses Director: Mrs Silindile Qwabe, DUT Academic Development Practitioner: Dr Timothy Obaje, DUT Public Management Department Lecturer and Researcher; Dr Kuda Shonhiwa and artists such as Dj Happy Girl, Dj Bongs, Dj Maweza, Minister of Masikandi, Navigator Gcensa and many more artists.

Radio personality and Residence Advisor (RA) Siboniso Manqele, Residence Insource Co-Ordinator Sandile Nene were both programme directors. In the opening, Mr Nene welcomed everyone and was joined by the crowd while dancing and singing traditional songs.

In his opening remarks, Manqele requested the guests to sit back and relax as they are about to have fun and get more insight into different tribes and their cultures from different presentations prepared by students and their RA’s from different residences.

The Imbali Education and Innovation Precinct (IEIP) Manager; Mr Mfanozelwe Shozi read a message to welcome everyone to the event on behalf of the Midlands Campus Director, Dr Joe Molete.

“They say it is better later than never, as we all gathered here in celebration of Heritage Day to recognise and celebrate the cultural wealth of our nation. This is a day where South Africans celebrate by remembering the cultural heritage of the many cultures that make up the population of South Africa. I am glad that the Department of Student Housing and Residence Life has given us the opportunity to celebrate and be proud of our diverse Cultures. It is significant that we all know our roots and continue embracing them. I would like to thank the organisers and everyone who has taken their time to join us and all those who have logged in to the different digital platforms. With all that said I would like to welcome everyone and may this be a great and successful event,” said Dr Molete in a message.

Each residence represented a different culture. York Residence represented the Zulu culture, Riverton Residence represented the Xhosa culture, Wensleydale Residence represented the Indian culture, Jesmond Residence represented Swazis culture, Alexandra Residence represented the Sipedi culture, King Edward Residence represented the Mpondo culture, Indumiso Residence 2 and 4 represented the Sotho culture, Indumiso Residence 3 and 5 represented the Venda culture and Indumiso Residence 6 represented the Ndebele culture.

All the residences were given a chance to present and be judged based on tribe, attire, cultural education, language, dance and music categories.

Chemane-Nyathi, Qwabe, Shozi and Dr Obaje announced the winners after the presentations, the award for the best presentation went to Wensleydale Residence, for best attire York Residence and the winner for overall was Indumiso Residence 2 and 4. The overall winners also received a floating trophy that will be used in the upcoming cultural festivals to be held annually.

Nombuso Shelembe from Residence 2 stated that it came as a shock that they had won, but through all the hard work and dedication they deserved the award.

“I love challenges, this came as a wonderful distraction towards my studies as the preparations for the event were very hectic since most of us did not have any knowledge about the Sotho culture, but through research and teamwork we managed to come up with a good presentation,” she added.

Thabiso Mavundla who resides at York Residence expressed that all programmes conducted by the residences in collaboration with the Department of Student Housing and Residence Life are meant to address or raise awareness about different issues and encouraged students to participate.

“Firstly, being part of the festival was a joyous feeling. We met a lot of people and acquired new knowledge about different cultures. To be honest, I was very pleased to see that with the limited resources were able to give a performance that was pleasing to the eye and informative,” said Mavundla.

In closing, the Residence Development Officer, Mr Clinton Nhlenyama shared his closing remarks and thanked everyone who participated and made the event a success.

Pictured: From left: Mr Clinton Nhlenyama, Mr Mfanozelwe Shozi, Dr Kuda Shonhiwa, Mrs Celiwe Chemane-Nyathi, Miss Khule Zondi, Mrs Silindile Qwabe and Dr Timothy Obaje, at the event.

Zanele Mashaba

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