THOHOYANDOU - The Music Department of the University of Venda has launched an indigenous music project through a grant of R1,3 million from the national department of Arts and Culture.

The department of Arts and culture decided to support three universities, Venda, Zululand and Fort Hare, because they are uniquely located in areas and amongst communities that are endowed with rich and diverse cultural heritage.

During the launching of the indigenous music project, the University of Venda also invited three indigenous language and ethnic groups dwelling in the Limpopo Province, the Vendas, Shangaans and Pedis, to sing one song each, as a sign that there is unity in the province.

The Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Buyelwa Sonjica, told Mirror that those universities should work together with the communities to develop their tradition and culture.

She also stated that it is inspiring to the department and government at large to see such commitment from the institutions of higher learning. Especially when it involves a project to restore the dignity of the indigenous peoples of South Africa and the rest of Africa.

Sonjica said that the main aim of the project by the universities is to facilitate the implementation of the National Research and Development Strategy. Through this process, researchers are needed to improve the lives of people. It should also encourage a culture of learning and reading in our society and promote multingualism, which should lead to cultural, racial and religious tolerance.

"Our focus should be the whole heritage landscape. That's why, when the work of the task team was done, our department approved and adopted the strategy and plan within the framework of a national heritage initiative of conserving and promoting a traditional African rituals," said Sonjica.

The chairperson of the house of traditional leaders in Limpopo Province, Chief Mlungisi Ntsanwisi, told Mirror that traditional leaders are really happy that the universities adopted cultural heritage and tradition, as universities are strategically positioned to influence communities in search of their cultural roots, and many people are gradually losing their culture and tradition in favour of what is European. "We as traditional leaders, we plead with the Department of Arts and Culture to help us to establish and promote our culture and tradition as Shangaans, Vendas and Pedis on television.

"It will be part of the education of our children, who are learning about their culture and tradition," said Chief Ntsanwisi.

The HOD of the Music Department at the University of Venda, Mr George Mugovhani, told Mirror that the University of Venda, and specifically the Music Department, appreciates and welcomes the grant from the national Department of Arts and Culture, especially in times like these, where money is scarce and there is always the threat of cutbacks and retrenchments. "Through this kind of grant, we can make a difference, not only at the University of Venda, but also in the province and the country as a whole." He stated that the university is going to help and expose indigenous music to all people who wish to know more about it.

"We are building an indigenous music library and we would like to make this a tourist attraction. We are going to record the kind of music that will promote our elderly musicians who have potential and knowledge in this field. There is a very real danger that some of this knowledge might be lost, as some of these people are old, and we don't want this to happen," said Mugovhani.