01 Dec 2015

Culture is a mirror, which constantly reflects back on the inhabitants of a certain area.

Speaking during Natale’s annual cultural celebrations, the president of the Customary Court of Appeal, Kgosi Christopher Masunga, said culture was also an attachment, which changed the taste or varying moods that prompted people to express themselves well.

He therefore pointed out that it was thus vital for Batswana to understand and appreciate the diverse cultures found in their communities because in that way, they would be able to take into consideration the changes within the cultures. 

Kgosi Masunga said Batswana should acknowledge and endorse the fluidity and dynamism of culture through recognition of its ability to variables such as time and contrast.

He nonetheless appealed to Batswana to accept change and encourage the youth to pursue cultural practices, which will build and secure their future so that they could sustain themselves economically.

He said time was now for people to start investing in the conservation of their cultural heritage, citing the President’s Day celebrations in which different groups across the country were given the opportunity to showcase culture in a competition set up.

Such competition, he said, has had successful stories because those who compete are in return awarded prices, which motivate them to continue preserving their cultural practices while at the same time earning a living from such.

Furthermore, he stated that there should be a preliminary action, which can be investing on human resource because having an informed human resource will enable them to better position to develop, present and manage the local heritage.

He said this was because with a continued preservation of ancient monuments and sites, local traditions, folk’s expressions, traditional villages and other aspects, which reflect Botswana’s cultural landscape, would have benefits, which come in the form of cultural tourism.

Kgosi Masunga further asserted that it will be worth doing to ensure that communities revitalize their arts, crafts, rituals and legends, which are at risk of being forgotten by the younger generation.

He said these can improve the tourism sector as tourists tend to look for destinations where they can actually experience and learn about the way of life of the local people. 

Kgosi Masunga therefore urged the community of Natale to set up tourism related projects of cultural nature in order to be able to appreciate the benefits that local communities can receive from cultural tourism. Ends