22 Oct 2017

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama on October 20 joined hundreds of cheerful Bangwaketse at Kgosing in Kanye during a ceremony to restore to life, long lost tradition of dikgafela.

The presence of President Khama clearly added to the excitement that had already built up among Bangwaketse days prior to the cultural spectacle.

Upon his entrance, the crowd broke out into ululations, song and dance in an apparent buoyant mood befitting the day.

Kgosi Malope II, who gave a brief lecture on the historical significance of dikgafela, was happy that finally the ceremony was held albeit after a long-drawn-out absence.

“I am happy that courtesy of grain obtained from morafe through dikgafela, our storehouses have enough food to feed the hungry, should the need arise,” he said much to the appreciation of the crowd.

As a token of appreciation for honouring the invitation of morafe and gracing the ceremony, Kgosi Malope gave President Khama two bags of sorghum.

“Bojalwa jone ke go kopa pula mo badimong ba rona,” Kgosi Malope II said in explanation for the presence of sorghum beer, whose supply was in no small measure for marry-making purposes, perhaps to demonstrate the special place the brew had in the festivities.

Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Patrick Ralotsia, whose poetic language resonated well with the upbeat crowd, showered Kgosi Malope II and morafe with praises for reviving dikgafela, which he said was a vital cog in Sengwaketse tradition and custom.

He concurred with Kgosi Malope that as per the custom and tradition of Bangwaketse, stored grains would be used to feed the hungry during difficult times.

“One of the primary and traditional functions of Kgosi as the custodian of morafe is to take care of the welfare of his subjects and this include feeding the less privileged,” he said.

Kanye North legislator said also that due to adequate rains last season there had been substantial harvest to the extent that some were still harvesting.

Seventy-eight-year-old Mokaonyana Lebatlamang was over the moon at the resurgence of the carnival, which he said would appease ‘the gods’ and hopefully break recurring jinks of dry spells that had hit the country for sometime.

An 11-year-old Teta Thebe, a standard six pupil at Maisantwa Primary School learnt a great deal about dikgafela and their significance.

She learnt for instance that Moologa leaves were used throughout dikgafela ceremony because of the perceived association the tree had with rain.

Leo Ramaribeng, 11, who is also a pupil at Maisantwa and in the same standard as Teta was elated the ceremony would go a long way at assisting her with African Tradition Religion, a subject closer to her heart.

“Other than being water receptacles, I have come to know here today that clay pots can also be used to store traditional beer,” she said. ENDS