Alex residents ended Heritage Month commemorations with colourful cultural displays.
The weekend event which also put a spotlight on women abuse was hosted by NPO Men’s Forum in the Alexandra stadium parking lot. It was dominated by children’s groups whose energy and well-rehearsed dances reflected their desire to maintain their traditions and respect between the sexes.
The unisex groups included among others, the Chitsonga and Tshivenda cultural dancers, Amatsitsi Amahle maidens who promote the virtues of virginity.
Service providers used the platform to expose their work and also on hand were the City’s health and environmental services, police services, election agency, youth, drug and substance abuse NPOs and the forum which is championing a campaign against women abuse which is gripping the country.
Forum PRO Thembisa Tembe said culture should also be in the forefront of their #No Excuse campaign against this abuse.
“As the repository of positive values, conduct and character, culture and its expressions through dances should be promoted and sustained in children from a young age to adulthood within the home, community and country,” he said about the scourge which has prompted the presidency to institute funded interventions requiring the participation of all citizens and public and private entities.
Tembe also urged for unity and use of all art forms to fight the scourge.
“Heightened consciousness is needed to reduce the tendency of men who abuse women and then blame their unbecoming conduct on intoxication. If taught good manners from a young age, boys won’t grow up to be monsters we see today and will not to fight but use dialogue to solve their problems.”
