The Nal’ibali-Lesedi Literacy Project hosted the Northern Cape Literacy Month Festival to highlight the importance of literacy, cultural heritage, and the power of stories to shape young minds and build stronger communities at the NG Kerk, Postmasburg, Northern Cape recently. Hosted in collaboration with the Northern Cape Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture, the festival brought together educators, learners, and community members for an experience centred around creating positive experiences for children through reading and stories in the mother tongue.
A highlight of the festival was the presence of Excellency ǂXuu Katrina Esau, affectionately known as Ouma Katrina, the last fluent speaker of the endangered N|uu language. Ouma Katrina’s presence was a tribute to the enduring power of language as both a cultural artifact and a living tradition. The festival provided a platform to honour her life’s work in preserving the N|uu language and underscoring the importance of indigenous languages in the fabric of South African identity.
Nal’ibali director, Lorato Trok, launched her biographical book about Ouma Katrina titled “Golden Girl” at the festival. The book, which celebrates Ouma Katrina’s life and legacy, serves as a call to action for educational institutions to ensure that children learn about their cultural heritage. Trok also appealed to the Department of Education to purchase the book, emphasising how learning about figures like Ouma Katrina can inspire younger generations to value their linguistic heritage.
The Nal’ibali-Lesedi Literacy Project launched the "Seeds of Change" anthology, a collection of stories in Afrikaans, English, and Setswana written by 34 children from various primary schools involved in the project at the event. The story anthology is a testament to the power of storytelling and the creativity that thrives when children are allowed to express themselves through writing. The youngest writer, a mere 4-year-old, Khumo Mothelesi from Boichoko Day Care Centre, Postmasburg, was celebrated for her contribution, inspiring other young learners to begin their literacy journey early. The festival also distributed 125 copies of “Seeds of Change” and 130 bags, books, and supplements to the participants to assist children in continuing to read beyond the festival.
In keeping with the theme of celebrating local languages and culture, the event featured a cultural group performance on the role that storytelling and performance play in building a robust literacy culture. By weaving together cultural traditions with modern educational efforts, the festival highlighted the importance of fostering a literacy-rich environment that values both the old and the new.
The festival marked the beginning of a movement to ensure that every child reads, every child learns, and every child succeeds in the Northern Cape. Through initiatives like the festival Nal’ibali is leading the way in ensuring more children have access to diverse reading resources, promoting community involvement in education, and building a culture of reading for enjoyment in the Northern Cape