Abstract:
Unhu/ubuntu is one of the important mainstays of black communities in
Southern Africa. It emphasizes the connectedness of people and the need for
them to work together and sustains families thus ensuring their continued
existence. This paper thus argues that the vanhu/abantu (people) of the sub region have employed proverbs among other ways to ensure that unhu people
going even when faced with daunting challenges. It asserts that through the use
of some of these aspects of living heritage in the form of expressions like
proverbs, unhu has been, and continues to be affirmed. Through an analysis of
some proverbs of the Manyika, especially those of the Tangwena people on the
border with Mozambique, by employing the speech act theory, this paper
discusses how through proverbial lore the Manyika have buttressed and
affirmed unhu in their communities, primarily among their children. The paper
concludes by emphasizing that such gems of intangible cultural heritage need to
be vigorously preserved, promoted and safeguarded through various means that
include radio and online interactive platforms
