YOUNG OBSERVER | Youth lead renewed pride in Mayeyi culture ahead of Batsara festival

Patience Makwele

Youths have expressed renewed pride in their Mayeyi heritage, saying the annual Batsara Cultural Festival provides an opportunity for a younger generation to reconnect with ancestral traditions, preserve their language and celebrate an identity they fear could be weakened by changing lifestyles.

With the annual celebration set for 2 August in Sangwali, young Mayeyi people say the festival has evolved beyond a cultural gathering into a platform where they can embrace their roots while giving their traditions a modern voice.

Among those eagerly awaiting the festival is Namakaliza Libonina, who said preparations are already underway, with many young people ready to celebrate the heritage they hold dear.

“We are looking forward to it. We have already bought our outfits and we are ready to go because this is our culture, this is our heritage and this is our pride,” Libonina said.

She said despite many young Mayeyi people living away from their traditional homeland, their connection to their ancestry remains strong.