17 Aug 2014

Young people watched in awe as the elderly twisted and turned to the serenading sounds of Segankure and other traditional music instruments that evoked memories of yesteryears during Culture Day organised by Kanye Library Committee on August 15.

The pomp and fanfare did not stop there as an array of Sengwaketse traditions and culture among them dikgafela, traditional cuisine and games were on display.

The organisers went an extra mile and brought along people with a deep understanding of the history of Bangwaketse who gave free education to children and the elderly that thronged Mmasekou.

District youth coordinator for the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture, Phinias Kgare said the objective of the day was to showcase practical cultural elements to the children.

He said the day was a result of the National Library Policy of 2013 which has given birth to library and information centres in libraries across the country to facilitate easy access to information on culture, government departments and programme for purposes of development.

That withstanding, Kgare encouraged Batswana to take advantage of the facilities and identify pockets that needed to be addressed so that the information centres could meaningfully contribute to the development of their country.

Toro Mosimakoko chronicled the genealogy of the tribe’s chieftainship. He said prior to settling in present day Kanye, Bangwaketse had travelled and stayed in up to 24 other places among them Phuthadikobo, Magagarape and Seoke .

All this,Mosimakoko aexplained, was in search of a place of refuge from marauding war-thirsty nations as well as securing land to rear livestock and plough.

The scenic beauty and uniqueness of Kanye which he likened to a cup on a saucer, he said, gives it the impetus to be in the forefront as a place for tourist attraction.

Kelebileone France, a Standard One Teacher at Maisantwa Primary School in Kanye said the day’s events were educational and in line with the school syllabus.

She hinged her hopes on the fact that the practical display of cultural events such as Dikgafela will positively impact on the education of pupils whom she admitted were not doing well in Cultural Studies.

Twelve-year-old Isago Setlhaolo, a Standard Seven pupil at Maranyane Primary School, said the events were truly an eye opener in as far as her Cultural Studies are concerned.

“I saw for the first time traditional music instruments such as Segankure and traditional cuisine such as Lohata and learnt a great deal concerning Dikgafela,” she said.

Olebile Kooitse, an Umbrella Village Development Committee chairperson showered event organisers with praise saying culture’s role in defining people cannot be looked down upon.

She said it takes a collective effort and volunteerism to raise a responsible and well defined future posterity hence need for the elderly to share knowledge and impart important historical information upon the children so that they could in turn pass it on to their children. Ends