UKZN’s Ma’at Institution Celebrates Africa Day

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Staff at the Ma’at Institute within the College of Humanities celebrated Africa Day by dressing up as representatives of various African tribes and cultures, learning about the colourful past of the Zulu Kingdom, playing indigenous games, taking part in traditional music and dance, sharing the depth of the isiZulu language using idioms and proverbs, and enjoying African cuisine.

Mentor and social worker Ms Nokukhanya Zondi and Media and Communications Officer Ms Nomfundo Buthelezi shared the collective experiences of the team, with Zondi saying 25 May marked the beginning of the aloe (Nhlaba) season. ‘Africa Day is a symbolic occasion celebrating the rebirth of the spiritual being of African people, according to African cosmology, which denotes a passage where the dead, living, and future members of society meet,’ she said.

‘Celebrating Africa is not a singular concept - at the Ma’at Institute, we celebrate Africa in a variety of ways every day. We observed Africa Day this year by dressing and eating as representatives of many African nations and customs.’

Buthelezi said during the celebrations they learned about the rich history of oral literature, using clan names (izithakazelo), singing (ukucula), and performing indigenous African dance (ukugida) as therapeutic activities as well as assisting group members to reconnect and reflect about themselves while circular sitting, enhancing the sense of oneness, sameness, and commonalities.

Strategies included indigenous African song/chants (ingoma) and traditional Zulu dance which are used to uplift spirits and to allow for the expression of feelings.

‘I enjoyed the encounter,’ said Zondi. ‘We learned and remembered a lot more information about who we are, where we come from, and our rich past. As Africans, our way of life involves sharing and laughing.’

The Ma’at Institute works to provide African-centred mental and psychological support services to a variety of communities. Its mandate is Living Ubuntu through the ways of Ma’at which it achieves by implanting African knowledge systems, experiences and culture in its psychosocial services.

Words: Sinoyolo Mahlasela

Photograph: Supplied