Studio 88 Celebrates International Mother Language Day!
There are 11 official languages in South Africa, each unique to its people. Join Studio 88 as we explore our vast 'mother languages' & celebrate street culture!
What is International Mother Language Day, and why is it essential to observe the day on a global scale? Studio 88 is proud to clue you in on this monumental day spent celebrating and honouring multilingualism. With South Africa having eleven languages, we are, in our own right, one of the most diverse nations in the world and proud of it. Here's how and why International Mother Language Day came to be.
"Language much like fashion unites people by celebrating diversity and bringing together cultures." - Studio 88
What Is International Mother Language Day?
International Mother Language Day takes place globally on February 21st and is the brainchild of UNESCO to promote cultural and linguistic multilingualism and diversity. Language is the most powerful instrument for conserving and developing people's tangible and intangible history and heritage. International Mother Language Day aims to develop an in-depth awareness of global linguistic and cultural heritage, inspiring solidarity based on understanding and tolerance of dialogue!
Mzansi is one of the most diverse nations in the world, despite this, we have some unique words that only we understand. We are rich in culture and heritage, and thanks to this we tend to borrow words and phrases from each other’s languages to create an urban language and culture that we all understand. This exchange and borrowing of phrases are heavily influenced by street culture and the vibrancy of urban culture.
People, particularly those who live in townships and commute to city centres every day for work, tend to come from different language backgrounds. Some come from a Setswana-speaking background, some isiZulu, some Tshivenda, some Afrikaans, etc, this variety of languages over time results in a common culture that brings everyone together. Words such as Heita, Eish, Wena, Yebo, Lekker, Eish, Jol, and Sjoe, are common to every South African but we seldom stop and celebrate how we have all influenced each other.
Studio 88 is synonymous with street culture and owes its success to the curators and pioneers of street culture. It is these people who have carried and celebrated the Studio 88 brand since its inception.
Today, as we celebrate International Mother Language Day and the diversity of South Africa, we also celebrate how street lingo has taught us that we all belong. We see you Baf’wethu, Aweh!
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