16 May 2016

Kgosi Kebinatshwane Mosielele of Manyana has said it is important for the younger generation to be taught about culture at an early stage.

Addressing students at culture day celebration held at Letlhabile Junior Secondary School on May 13, he said there is a need for them to know their roots and elders play critical role to make that happen.

He said years ago, through bogwera and bojale cultural practices the young generation was taught about their culture but the practices have since disappeared and faded way due to modernity. 

He added that the new generation’s lives revolve much on modern technology which exposes them to different cultural lifestyles. 

He said this could influence their behaviour negatively saying that this was where elders should give advice and direction so that they do not get lost.

“It is important to respect your culture and know where you come from regardless of your tribe,” said Kgosi Mosielele. 

He further encouraged students to respect elders so as to learn from them the Setswana norms and tradition.

When giving Bahurutshe culture insights, Kgosi Pogiso Sekoko said his tribe migrated from South Africa in 1912 and dispersed to different parts of the country such as Manyana, Makaleng and Tonota. 

He said others came in Tonota in 1913 and as the population increased they decided to build a school in 1914 and then the rest followed.

He said culture is important as it defines who an individual is and parents should not get tired in teaching their children culture regardless of having the modern technology as a challenge.

In her welcome remarks, Letlhabile Secondary School head, Ms Modipe Osentse said it is for the first time in 25 years that the school commemorate culture day, adding that the school saw it fit to take the students through culture especially as the country is celebrating 50 years of independence this year.

She said they wanted to share with their students the importance of culture which also instills a sense of Botho in an individual. 

Osentse said they have a diversity of cultures in Tonota and that variety should not come between them. She said through the commemoration, the school aimed at reviving the different cultural practices.

Furthermore she said the commemoration is another way of helping the students to work on their character towards their culture which seems to be disappearing.

Still at the celebration, Setswana games such as morabaraba and koi were played and elders seized the opportunity to showcase their skills of what they used to play to them.

Dikhwaere, traditional dance and polka dance, also dominated the commemoration. 

One of the Polka dancers, Katlego Motswaodi, a Form II  student, was the talk of the day as he showed spectacular moves to the Polka tunes.

Motswaodi said he learned Polka in Tsabong after watching one of the local groups performing on national television and he got interested and later on formed a group with his friends in school.

He encouraged other students to appreciate other cultures as they unite the nation.ENDS