11 Dec 2014

Setebere Kerailwe is a firm exponent of the saying; “A nation without a culture is a lost nation.”

She continues to practice  the Setswana custom of using soil to build and beautify her homestead at Selokolela.

Although located 27 kilometers west of the Bangwaketse capital, Kanye, Selokolela remains a closed book to many save for historians who would recall the massacre on a grand scale of many of Mzilikazi warriors at the hands of Bangwaketse during the Mfecane era.

It was in Selokolela valley where Bangwaketse warriors are said to have registered victory on marauding Mzilikazi warriors who reigned terror on neighbours. The love for Setswana tradition exhibited by people like Ms Kerailwe of Matlhatswe ward indeed gives the otherwise sleepy village a face-lift.

 The skill with which the 54-year-old mother of six displays her mastery of mixing soils of different colours to enhance the beauty of the designs, shapes and patterns carved on the halls of  her ‘Lelwapana’ gives credence why this reporter will readily assent to yet another excursion to Selokolela village.

What a sight to behold! Indeed it takes one down memory lane to Batswana long held tradition of not only building in earth but using the same to create beautiful shapes and designs leaving lasting impressions.

“I learnt this from an early age from my mother whose love for beauty and decoration using soil was mind boggling and I must say I have not looked back either,” she says exuding confidence.

In the olden days, men would kill for female ‘artisans’ who displayed this remarkable skill, usually handed  down from one generation of artisans without modern techniques.

They were highly regarded homemakers and made impressive wives. Her partner of many years, Mr Kenosi Simanyana, aged 60; acknowledges with a chuckle that he was not attracted to Ms Kerailwe’s wizardry at working with soil when he sought permission from her parents to have her come make an abode with him.

“I must admit that although that was not the case initially, I have grown to be appreciative of her skill which continues to startle me up to this day,” he said with his face lighting up.

 He is especially appreciative of his partner’s unparalleled knowledge of working with mud. This has come as a relief and complement to him because he can only concentrate on the task of gathering of building materials from the veldt.

What is it that  keeps people like Ms Kerailwe holding on albeit decline in the use of traditional local building materials and techniques due to socio-economic and cultural transformation as well as changing value systems?

She is quick to point out that although the practice has a lot of positives among others; abundant, accessible and inexpensive materials none of these can be as compelling as her love for the craft to get her hands ‘muddy’.

“I do this out of sheer love for our tradition that has been passed on to me by my late mother and I am also passing on the baton to some of my children,” she says with pride.

Besides passing on such knowledge to her children at home, Ms Kerailwe does get solicitations to showcase her skills by way of decorating during events such as weddings in Selokolela. 

Such moments also present her with the opportunity to encourage other budding and staunch Setswana culture enthusiasts like her. She does this free of charge.

Her 26 year-old daughter, Kealeboga Kedirelwang is sold  to the family long tradition of working with soil has developed a keen interest in the tradition. A Cambridge certificate holder, having completed her Form 5 at Seepapitso Senior Secondary School in Kanye in 2009, she says she has not only learnt the ropes of the craft but is ready to carry on where her mother left off and impress. ENDS