18 Aug 2015

Culture can help to relief the burden of unemployment as it advances people’s livelihoods. Justice Bess Nkabinde-Mmono of the South African Constitutional Court said this during the celebration of the Batlokwa Cultural Day in Tlokweng on Saturday August 15.

She said culture provides economic opportunities that people could take advantage of in order to advance their lives. Justice Nkabinde-Mmono pointed out that cultural music and traditional foods provide employment opportunities.

She pointed out that employment would not always come from government efforts as people could also devise means of survival from their cultural practices. “Culture helps us to advance our economies,” Justice Nkabinde-Mmono added.

In addition, Justice Nkabinde-Mmono said culture was a vehicle which promotes unity among people hence the need for it to be embraced. She cited the concept of Botho which recognises that one person’s life is as valuable as that of another.

She said the concept recognises a person’s status and that each person was entitled to respect and dignity regardless of their social status or tribe. Furthermore, she noted that the institution of bogosi which is part of culture, is still relevant in the sphere of democratic governance and helps to bring harmony and peace.

She said the institution helps people to stay united in their cultural diversities and also to respect one another. For his part, Kgosi Puso of Batlokwa said the institution of bogosi has a role to play in economic enhancement.

Kgosi Puso added that through culture people could come up with cultural tourism activities to better their lives. He added that the country’s Vision 2016 roadmap recognises the importance of culture in nation building.

Kgosi Puso, who is also the chairperson of Ntlo ya Dikgosi, said cultural diversities bring people together and help to build the nation. The Batlokwa Culture Day, which was the seventh since its inception in 2008, was celebrated under the theme: Ngwao pinagare. ENDS