Paul Roos Gymnasium hosted the first isiXhosa oratory competition, Masithethe!, in the Western Cape on Saturday 14 May, with learners from several Cape schools participating.
Participants blossomed at the opportunity of taking part in a competition in their mother tongue language and witnessing other learners embracing the language.
A total of 87 speech entries from eight schools – Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof, Calling Academy, Grootte Schuur High School, Makapula Secondary School, Rhenish Girls’ High School, St Cyprian’s High School, Kayamandi Secondary School and Paul Roos Gymnasium – were received.
The isiXhosa teachers from participating schools acted as judges, along with two VIP judges from Stellenbosch University, Dr Zameka Sijadu (Faculty of African Language) and Dr Simthembile Xeketwana (Faculty of Education), who share a love of isiXhosa and endorse a multilingual society.
Masithethe! was a group effort that proved there are teachers who support multilingualism in communities and schools. It also proved that the art of the spoken word can be used as a community building tool.
ENSafrica’s CEO Jan Vivier was the catalyst for the development of this initiative. He attended the event with great appreciation and accentuated the importance of the competition in the development of all its participants.
