29 Sep 2014

Stakeholders in the upbringing of children have been challenged to explain significances and rationale behind certain cultural practices and norms so that children could understand motives behind behaving and handling things in a particular way.

Speaking during Simon Ratshosa School culture day, Friday, September 26, Hollard Life chief executive officer, Lydia Andries said children informed of reasons behind certain cultural practices grew up to be responsible citizens who could transmit the same cultural knowledge to future generations. Andries also conceded that culture could still be diffused to younger generations by oral means, thus challenged those harbouring cultural knowledge to document it for consistency and future reference. 

As part of future plans, the Hollard chief appealed to the Serowe royalty and the community to establish a cultural centre where information pertaining to Ngwato culture could be easily accessed. 

Amongst a plethora of challenges she posed to the people of Ga Mmangwato was the need to introduce cultural programmes for students during school breaks as part of resuscitating the seemingly distinct culture. 

During an event held under the theme, Go babalela ngwao gore dikokomane di e fitlhele,  Andries opined that resuscitating culture could help curb social ills rampant amongst the youth.

She defended cultural practices against those who launched onslaught on them arguing that those who viewed culture as backward were in fact the ones who bore primitive thoughts since they did not understand their identity. 

 Andries, whose company donated a computer and a printing machine that also doubles as a fax and photocopier, towards documentation of culture argued that culture was essential in moulding the behavior of an all-rounded Motswana whose Botho credentials were beyond reproach.  

Without dismissing the fact  that there were arguments that people lived in a global village, Andries conceded that culture evolved with time and therefore called on Batswana to ensure that cultural ideals that were still relevant especially towards shaping positive behaviour continued to prevail. 

Not only did culture give a sense of identity but also provided a source of living through performance and cultural tourism. 

The school held the culture day to, amongst other things, revive culture and Setswana as a language after realisation that students were failing the latter while doing well in subjects offered in foreign languages, especially English. ENDS