The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation has introduced a ninth indigenous language of television news.

For the first time, the Ju|'Hoansi-speaking community can now watch television news in their own language.

The new bulletin that was introduced today forms part of the NBC's indigenous-language news service, which dates back to 2000.

Twenty-six years after NBC introduced television news in six indigenous languages, followed by two more, the service has expanded once again.

From today, Ju|'Hoansi joins the weekly rotation, with the 15-minute bulletin bringing news to the community in a language many understand best.

NBC Director General Menesia Muinjo was among the first presenters when the indigenous-language bulletins were introduced.

“It was important to introduce indigenous news bulletins as a way of preserving our culture, as a way of disseminating information in the languages of choice, the languages people understand better, and the preservation of our heritage through language development.”

For Tsumkwe residents, the development is being welcomed as a step towards greater representation, access to information, and preservation of their language and culture.

“Elderly people do not speak English, and they do not understand the language. Now that the language that we are speaking is being used, it is a very good thing. Now that we are having news on TV in our own language, it is a great thing,” said Kxao Tsamkxao.

“It is a good thing if NBC does such things. It means that everyone will be happy because it is a good idea that NBC came up with,” noted Kxao Boo.

“I am very happy that these days we will be sitting and watching news in our language on TV. It means that NBC has grown, and now we will be watching news on TV in our language. It is a great thing,” added !Uh Tsamkxao.

For |Ui Charlie N!aici, a Ju|'Hoansi transcriptionist, the bulletin also speaks to a long-standing challenge of language preservation.

“When it comes to our language, it was really left behind, and we did not have anyone who could read or write it. It is only now that a few people have learned how to read and write it. It is a great thing that we as San people can now stand in front of a camera and speak while everyone is watching us. It is development for us, and it is a good thing.”

Muinjo added that the expansion of its language services is part of a broader effort to make broadcasting more inclusive.