Bravo Chitete Primary School

By Blessing Munkuli

Chitete Primary School Ngoma Buntibe

Group dancing and blowing horns                               

Chitete Primary School Ngoma Buntibe left the audience jovial after performing the Buntibe cultural rite at the 2014 Day of the African Child Commemoration on the 17th of July 2014 at Mucheni Primary School.

The group celebrated the death of the African Children who were killed on June 16 1976, for the fight for free, fair and quality education in Soweto.
The group of young stars brag of having a unique culture hence called people aboard in celebrating the Day of the African Child through a song “Muboole muzoobone/come and see” sung along the Nyeele and Ngoma Rhythm.
The young and energetic Ngoma Buntibe group’s performance raised both the young and the old’s spectators’ spirit to the extent of joining in the dance, with one old lady taking over one drum known as “Ga-ga-ga/Kantu-ntu-ntu” and other drums taken over by men, making it hard to stop the dance for the master of ceremony to proceed with the program.
Chief Sinansengwe, while enjoying the cultural performance asked on how one can stop Buntibe for the sake of progressing with the program.
“How do you stop Buntibe?” asked the chief.
The chief’s question implies that Buntibe has a spiritual attachment to the BaTonga hence trying to stop someone in an ecstatic state is nothing but a futile exercise as you hardly can succeed.
Such an outstanding performance was not anticipated as stakeholders were left astounded; they did not have it in their minds that children could be that perfect in their cultural performance as it is thought that young people are barely involved in such cultural rites.
Buntibe touches the spirit of a Tonga child. It is normally used to appease the ancestors hence it is a form of praise and worship in the BaTonga Culture.
This rite is passed down from generation to generation. Chitete Primary school is not performing Buntibe as a way of culture showcasing but as a way of preserving the great treasure the BaTonga have.
The chief gave credit to the primary school for that.
“Chitete is doing well in the upkeep of our culture. This is what all schools in Binga should strive for as it teaches children of who they are. This is their right as well,” said the chief.

Old man dancing to the rhythm

Boys blowing horns

 








 visit: http://www.facebook.com/basilwizi.org