By Mafumane Tlhapi and Ntokozo Maseko
In celebration of Heritage Month, the North-West University (NWU) hosted an intercampus spelling bee competition to promote language diversity across its three campuses.
The event took place on 21 September at the Mmabana Convention Centre, where students competed in a friendly yet fierce contest, spelling in the language of their choice: English, Setswana or Afrikaans.
Prof Sonia Swanepoel, deputy vice-chancellor for community engagement and Mahikeng Campus operations, warmly welcomed all the guests. She expressed her pride in the university’s ability to produce well-rounded graduates. "Sports and culture are important, but today we celebrate language, the very thing that sets us apart from other species," she said.
Participants proudly embraced their home languages, taking pride in their cultures and showing respect for linguistic diversity. Dr (honoris causa) Easy Matjila, who recently received an honorary doctorate from the NWU and a guest speaker at the event, praised the initiative.
"NWU students are learning different languages from one another. It's high time the NWU introduced parent and teacher conferences to influence multilingualism further and build confidence in the corporate world."
MEC for Education in the North West province, Ms Viola Motsumi, emphasised the importance of introducing indigenous languages such as isiXhosa, isiZulu, and others into the school curriculum. She stated, "Language is a powerful tool for preserving culture and identity. By incorporating our native languages into education, we foster a sense of pride among learners and ensure that our diverse heritage is passed on to future generations. We need to promote multilingualism in our schools to build unity in diversity."
While the competition was tough, with some contestants eliminated early, the Mahikeng Campus students dominated, winning first place in Afrikaans, English and Setswana. The supportive audience, thrilled by the diverse languages, took home newfound knowledge and appreciation for their peers' linguistic abilities.
This event served as a celebration of language and a bridge between different cultures and traditions within the NWU.
Honouring diversity through language – NWU students compete in the intercampus spelling bee competition.
