IsiSwati radio station is becoming more English

I write this letter as a distressed listener of my Ligwalagwala FM. It is really appalling that a radio station intended for the Siswati speakers is becoming more English.

Leading the onslaught in this regard are our own men and women of God, led by Pastors Portia Luthuli and Negros Manana. They are not the only culprits, as many of the presenters prefer to use English, forgetting that this is a Siswati radio. I wonder what the editorial policy of this radio station says about language.

But listening to other radio stations, you hardly hear the Queen’s language. I wonder what is the rationale behind the use of English, knowing very well that our old folks in particular, do not understand this language.

As if the language issue is not enough, even the Siswati used in Ligwalagwala, lets one wonder how some of the presenters are appointed. We once argued that for one to be appointed he/she needs to ruin the language and that will be a license.

Much as I know that we cannot be perfect in this language, but knowing that bafana instead of the incorrect ebafana, shaywa instead of the incorrect shatjwa as promoted by Mr Thabede, lishumi nesihlanu instead of the incorrect lishumi nakuhlanu as promoted by Lungile Ncongwane, emahlangotsi instead of tinhlangotsi.

The list is long, but what is worse and cut across current affairs and the presenters are the noun class prefixes. They are so problematic in such a way that where there are initial prefixes, they are elided but where there are none they are added, e.g muntfu, malanga, miti, mdlalo and ebadlali, ebafana which are all incorrect.

I suggest Ligwalagwala arrange a crash course for the noun class prefixes as it is disgusting to always listen to the corrupt Siswati at my favourite radio station. Let me give the correct noun classes for the sake of our nation.

Classes 1. Umuntfu;Umdlali 2. Bantfu;Badlali 3.Umuti;Umdlalo 4.Imiti; Imidlalo; 5. Licala;Litje; Live 6. Emacala; Ematje; Emave; Emanti; Emahewu 7.Sinkhwa; Sitja 8. Tinkhwa; Titja 9. Inkhomo; Imvu; 9A Imali 10. Tinkhomo; Timvu; Timali 11. Lwandle; Lusizi 12. —- 13. —- 14. Buhle, Bubi, Bunandzi 15.Kudla; Kufa; Kwendza. Hope this will assist.

The more one talks about Sidla Ngaloludzala there more one becomes discombobulated. I read one letter from a certain Nkosi and I told myself that he/she was reading my mind as I have the same concerns. I do not have problems with the presenters at all, but they are too shallow and lack knowledge and experience of the Swazi culture, customs and traditions.

They need to be assisted by veterans in the field so that they can learn and grow. Truly speaking, they have shown love and passion for culture, customs and traditions, but that is supplemented by in-depth knowledge and understanding of the field which exposes them many a times when they present or listeners ask questions.

Remember that we rely on the radio to go back to our roots and any ill advice has catastrophic consequences to the whole nation. Hence I beg and pray that Ligwalagwala FM takes this critique as a positive way of enhancing our radio station to reclaim its rightful position of being number one in the country in educating the nation on cultural matters.

It is for this reason that I suggest you rely more on guests who are knowledgeable and who can add value to this program.

Once again, I appeal for the reduction of English on our station. We can understand when you interview guests on current affairs as there is no other way, but to use English to source information which the presenters summarise such interview for us.

But there is absolutely no justification for using English in a program knowing very well that the majority of our people do not understand as such. English is not translated at all. My Ligwalagwala FM my pride of the nation.