Second Annual isiXhosa Festival to be Held in March 2009

Sithetha isiXhosa samaXhosa emaXhoseni!! The last weekend of the month will mark the celebration of isiXhosa language at KwaLanga, Western Cape's first Xhosa speaking township. The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport will be hosting the 2nd Xhosa Festival on 27-29 March at Guga S'thebe and St Francis, KwaLanga.

The Festival will provide participants with a basic knowledge and understanding of the Xhosa culture and in so doing contribute to the active development of isiXhosa as a marginalised language in the Western Cape. The Festival was initiated with the aim of instilling a sense of pride amongst isiXhosa speakers and to create awareness amongst those who are unfamiliar with the language and culture.

In keeping with the spirit of language and ensuring its promotion thereof, the MEC for Cultural Affairs & Sport, Cameron Dugmore will be introducing the newly appointed members of the Western Cape Language Council to the members of the media.

The Language Committee is tasked with monitoring the use of the three official languages of the Western Cape, Afrikaans, English and Xhosa, by the Western Cape government, promoting these languages as well as promoting multilingualism

The new members are Michael le Cordeur, the previous chairperson and circuit manager for the Boland region of the Department of Education, Alet van Huyssteen, a Xhosa lecturer at the University of the Western Cape and also a previous chairperson, Magrieta Arries, Armand Kleinschmidt, Fundile Majola, Rosetta Ziegler, Hendrik Theys, Kelvin Vollenhoven, Nosisi Mpolweni, Zola Wababa and Prof Rajendra Chetty.

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For Enquiries:

Angus Flowers
Media Liaison Officer
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 021 483 9800
Fax: 021 483 9521
Email: aflowers@pgwc.gov.za
Mobile: 078 530 5943

Daniel Johnson
Head Communication and Marketing
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 021 483 9514
Fax: 021 483 9521
Email: dmjohnson@pgwc.gov.za
Mobile: 083 711 1407