Is the concept of kumudzi dying out?

Now that the long holiday is here in the past parents would send children to the village (kumudzi) for holidays. Now, as more grandparents are living in towns is the concept of kumudzi dying out? Our Reporter ALBERT SHARRA explores.

How to spend a school holiday is an interesting part of life to many students. These are common stories you can get from students during final days of their school terms. Many want to visit places they have never been before and most of those in towns prefer going to the village to spend the recess time with their grandparents, uncles and other relatives.

However, due to urbanisation, many people in the village have transferred to urban centres and cities where they have settled leaving no roots in the village. Again, some of those in towns hold their children from going to the village during holiday for various reasons.

In an interview with some of the students early this week, out of the 12 students interviewed in Blantyre, only three said they visit their home village for holidays once in a while. Some said they have relatives in the village and others said theirs are in town.

But, do the youth know what it means to live in the village? During the interview, the students said they would love to be in the village and appreciate the rural life as it give a clear picture of what the real Malawi is.

“I have learnt that grandparents tell entertaining and educating stories about animals and how people lived in the past. I would love to listen to these. I also think the visit can add value to my life. There are times when we are asked to write compositions on how we spent our holidays. This would give me a good story,” said one of the students while revealing that her parents do not allow her to go to the village.

Two others also shared the same reasons with one saying his parents give excuses that there is witchcraft.

Scova Singano, a father of three based in Blantyre said he comes from Mulanje in T/A Njema’s area and he sends his children to Chilomoni.

“My Parents moved out of the village and settled in Chilomoni. When it is holiday, my children go there. I only go with them to the village for farming, but I cannot send them there without my parents. There is a lot that we know about village life and how they affect one’s life and behaviour,” said Singano.

Another parent of three, Chrissie Gondwe said she knows the importance of sending children to the village during holidays but said her concern is on what the village life can do to their life.

“There are many issues any parent considers before sending a child to live with other people away from home especially in the village. There are issues of witchcraft, initiation ceremonies and other traditions that can influence a child’s behaviour. This is my concern,” said Gondwe.

Traditional Authority Kapeni in Blantyre has also witnessed this and he believes this is driven by issues of education, independence and urbanisation.

“Westernisation has influenced the minds of many to think that urban life is the best. So many see no reason to send their children to the village. But there is a lot children miss about our cultures by not spending time with their grandparents,” he said.

Village headman Makolosa concurs with T/A Kapeni. He says most Malawians have opted to live an English life, cut from the rural world. He said many people have relatives in the village, but prefer to keep their children in town for various reasons. Makolosa however, admitted that urbanisation is pushing everyone to town.

“We are living in the times when we all believe gold life is in town. Grandparents also want to live in towns and if this happens it means we have cut the whole essence of going to the villages. Again, we are living in the times when most people think western life is the best,” he said.

Sociologist, Akimu Banda sees the kumudzi concept completely dying out in the near future. He said there is more of ownership in parents than it was in the past when uncles owned the family.

“It is time when parents get comfort and satisfaction in holding their children and watch them grow. The time has proved to many that there is lots that misleads the future of children living in the village and people think being in town provides better life that drives to success in life,” he said adding that, it is the goodness people see in urban life than in rural that is killing this concept.