Culture as a way of life ought to be preserved accordingly in different indigenous communities that prides itself with their heritage. Language transfers knowledge and practices that instils indigenous life skills education to a particular ethnic group maintaining their culture for their own benefit. The issue behind the distortion of culture and indigenous languages is that people adopt different cultures and languages from other spectrums. This paper aims to underpin various strategies that can be utilized to maintain one’s culture and language through embracing their identities even in a multicultural setting. This paper applies a mixed method approach with an indigenous paradigmatic lens to elucidate meaning on the trends and arguments within the challenges and preservation of culture and indigenous languages. The study identified North-West University’s (NWU) Bachelor of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (BIKS) students as participants and a sample of 50 students from various ethnic communities were sampled purposively. Data was collected using a questionnaire and it was analysed using thematic analysis and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The paper finds that although some languages and cultures are viewed as inferior towards the contemporary education, there is a need for a policy shift in a multicultural setting. Embracing and mainstreaming culture and language within the education system of South Africa will ensure that the education becomes meaningful and relevant. The paper concludes that institutions of learning should develop and implement language policies which will ensure that various indigenous languages are intertwined within the teaching and learning missions of these institutions. Mainstreaming culture and languages ensure a solid sense of belonging(heritage) that will move from generation to generation through institutions of learning.

Authors:
Kamogelo Noge, North West University, South Africa

About the Presenter(s)
Mr Kamogelo Noge is currently a student at the North west University and a student assistant, assisting undergraduates. He is interested in attending conferences and publish to gain more academic exposure in order to shape his career.

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