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International Mother Language Day Celebration 2021

23 March 2021 | Story Mbali Moiketsi

The Office for International Affairs recently celebrated International Language Day. This year, we invited all faculties to submit the names of people who would be willing to contribute video clips to educate us about their mother tongue. The videos submitted were from diverse academic staff members and postdoctoral fellows currently based in different parts of the world. Extensive research has created this edutainment video, featuring famous language quotes, indigenous languages across the African continent, and business languages used across the African continent. Some of the indigenous languages on the African continent are fading away, caused by colonial influence.

Fun facts:
From 1994 to 2013, South Africa was in the Guinness Book of World Records for most official languages. These are Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Sepedi, Sesotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu.

Since the adoption of the 2013 Constitution, Zimbabwe now holds this title with 16 official languages, namely Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shangani, Shona, Sign Language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, and Xhosa. Zimbabwe therefore now holds the Guinness World Record for the country with the largest number of official languages.

Albeit the main languages in Zimbabwe are English, Shona and Ndebele, the minor languages are Chewa, Chibarwe, Kalanga, Koisan, Kunda, Lozi, Manyika, Nambya, Ndau, Nsenga, Tsonga-Shangani, Sotho, Tjwao, Tonga, Tswa, Tswana, Venda, and Xhosa.

WATCH: International Mother Language video

News Archive

Running not just for fun

2014-08-11

Running is not always just for fun – or even exercise. Running can also help to raise awareness for family, safety and social responsibility.

As part of the 2014 Intravarsity programme, the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the Bloemfontein Campus organised a Women’s Day Fun Run for staff, students and members of the public. Proceeds of the 4 km race were donated to Families South Africa (FAMSA). This organisation highlights a safe and healthy functional family life as a national priority.

Although the event was marked with laughter and giddiness, it also focused attention on the university’s drive to make our campus a safe space – especially for our women. Those participants who best portrayed a message of anti-violence received branded t-shirts and beanies. Of these winners were a group of young ladies who used cosmetics to make themselves look assaulted. They each received the uniquely-branded merchandise displaying, ‘I’m a super safe super hero’.

The Women’s Day Fun Run reminded women to be aware of their surroundings and invest in their personal well-being. It also served to remind men to be respectful, watchful and actively involved in protecting the women and families in their lives.

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