DEAR EDITOR—Please help me find, if there is one, a place where I can send my kid to learn to read and write the Shona language—or find a Zimbabwean tutor who will be willing to teach my son.
I worry about my son not being able to read and write my mother tongue. He is eight years old and I am worried that when I take him home to Zimbabwe next year, he will feel out of place not being able to communicate with the other kids.
All of my friends’ children do not speak Shona or Ndebele and I think that this is a shame.
I have seen Indian communities have lessons in Hindi and other languages offered at their mosques outside of prayer times. We could start Shona and/or Ndebele classes for our children at our churches.
I don’t know that many Zimbabwean churches in the London area, but this would be very good to do so that we do not create a generation of young people that will never identify with their roots.
I am ashamed to see many parents who do not want their kids to speak their mother tongue. I think to create a strong community, we should start by having a common language that identifies us as a people.
Tariro Matemai
London, United Kingdom
USEFUL ATTACHMENTS
READER OPINIONS
Chegorero Wezhira • chadz0469@aol.com Subject: The demise of our languages is imminent but reversible, I argue Sun, 11 May 2008 22:57:45 • I share with those who are concerned about the language vacuum that is being created by our children growing up in societies where our languages seem not to have a chance. We can however, do something about it. Zimbabwean parents, please stop pretending that you do not know your native language when we greet or converse with you in and around social gatherings. Parents - you are the worst culprits in this language decadence among our sibblings. There are many of you who urge even viistors not to speak to your kids in vernacular, for you wrongly seem to believe that your newly acquired status in the diaspora is not consistent with being identified with your lingo. What a shame! There is sufficient critical mass of Zimbabweans in and around London who should be taking thye initiative to start our own after-school vernacular-based clubs for kids so they can maintain their identity. The problem is that a lot of parents, at least those I have met are fake - the very English language they want to stubbornly adhere to is nowhere near up-to-scratch. So who is fooling who? Let's do something about this now.
Arthur Gwagwa • arthurgwagwa@yahoo.com Subject: Worth cause Mon, 05 May 2008 21:48:14 • Tariro, I am also concerned for my daughter. I think a good starting point is to speak Shona consistently at home and also to try and connect with other Shona/Ndebele families mainly in churches and such other places.
Because English is Zimbabwe's official language, it appears Zimbabweans havent explored the idea of accessing European Social and other funds to fund intiatives that promote our own culture just like Somalis and other groups.
On another note, I also think that we shouldnt impose Shona on our children. There is no guarantee that all of them will return to live in Zimbabwe.
Regarding my daughter's case, I speak in Shona consistently but she chooses to answer in English. Because of the pictures she sees about Africa on TV she somehow thinks everything African is primitive.
I try though to change her perspective by showing her good things from Africa. As she is growing up, her perspective is beginning to change. She is begining to investigate and showing interest in Zimbabwe and Africa generally. Hopefully this helps
On a lighter note, just to correct you, Hindus do not go to Mosques but to temples but Muslims do. They may find it offending if they hear you say they go to mosques!
RAVING WHITE COW • na Subject: EAT YOUR HEART OUT, TARIRO! Mon, 05 May 2008 21:04:26 • Must tell you Shamwari, last time I went home (2006) I was absolutely thrilled to hear my white grand-children jabbering away in pure Shona with the neighbours Shona kids who had climbed over the wall via a tree, to come and play. If you looked the other way you would think it was all black kids in the yard!
They have to learn it in school anyway.
mary • mchiri@yahoo.co.uk Subject: SHONA/NDEBELE Mon, 05 May 2008 17:59:08 • You can teach your son at home, the first thing you should do is communicate to him in Shona, most Zimbabwean parents are a shame really you find them talking to kids in english as if zvine shine, for sure lets teach our kids our language coz one day tichadzoka kumba tichida tisingade. Talk to your kids in Shona/Ndebele at least if they understand zviri nane, there is a lady in Leicester who is taking up Shona lessons but thats far away from you, or get someone from home to send you mabooks egrade 1 then start from there
Good Luck
mkrice • rice@casa-joya.com Subject: n/a Mon, 05 May 2008 09:33:10 • Not to worry kids pick up languages very easily. We moved to Spain when our daughter was nearly eleven and she is now 15 speaks Spanish like a native and when we go to Zim which is every 2-3 yrs she has picked up Shona not brilliantly but well. She slides into ShoSpaEnglish , mostly the rude words (thats kids for you) and some of the words she picks up on Zim forums not bad hey. Forums are handy for 50% of rude words.
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