Joel Tsvakwi
PROMINENT Binga philanthropist has challenged people from his area to capitalise on their rich cultural diversity and come up with revenue generating products.
Benevolence Mudenda who is now based in South Africa said there was need for Tonga people to know their worth.
But above all he said the Tonga people should have access to media which he said is the only way their culture can be made known to the people.
“Its good to have an access to media exposure, media is a very powerful tool to put people on world stage. We today know about Nigeria even though we have never been there through their media productions,” he said.
He added: “There are a number of Tonga singing groups be it religious, secular or ordinary music, they can as well be given a slot in the programming because music is a very powerful tool in teaching about culture and tradition of a people.”
Mudenda could not hide his distaste to the self-pity which is largely according to him thwarting all efforts to make the Tonga culture to be on mainstream platforms.
“When other tribes get to understand what a diverse and complicated a people we are, they will afford us an audience instead of them thinking Tonga people are no more than animals and a backward people, “he said.
He added: “As Africans, we are notorious in not documenting our practices, out of ignorance of who or what we are contempt towards our tribe or black race have become the default setting for foreigners. We are to blame by not playing an active role in human activities, be it in books writing, music production and political participation. We have become a laughing stoke and will continue to be if we do not assert our position.
Film producer at Zambezi Valley Films, Kalulu Mumpande said there are many ways of making available of cultural practises
“There is need to use various like media documentaries, films and cultural festivals, these can be streamed online, broadcasted on Television and also participating on film festivals.”
