19 Apr 2018

Understanding one’s culture requires one to understand, observe and live it.

This would require one to trace their roots in order to fully comprehend one’s origins.

It is against this background that Orapa recently celebrated culture day, where Kgosi Mokhutshwane Sekgoma of Serowe implored the public to be in touch with their culture.

Back in the days, Kgosi Sekgoma said Batswana fully observed and respected cultural practices, giving an example of when a girl started her menstrual period, in which case she would be isolated, a practice known in Setswana as botsetsi jwa go rafola.

This, he said was no longer practiced, but pointed out that it was important to observe and live by Setswana taboos to build a well-mannered and responsible future generation.

Kgosi Sekgoma said Botho was a custom highly regarded in Setswana culture as it guided and helped mould one’s character and could also be used to identify and determine one’s origin.
 

Language, he said, was another feature that differentiated people, adding that it was unfortunate that people used distasteful language sometimes even when communicating with children, resulting in those children picking the language.

He appealed to Batswana to dress appropriately because the way one dressed said a lot about them.

“People should be modest in everything they do,” stated Kgosi Sekgoma.

Kgosi Sekgoma said marriage was an institution that deserved to be sacred, adding that it was important in establishing principles of a family.

Tribal Administration director, Masego Mooketsi said the mandate of customary courts was to mould people’s character and educate them about their cultural origin.

Mooketsi said it was essential to celebrate culture as that served as a platform that could be used to educate young generation about their cultural origin.

Celebrating culture, she said, enabled tolerance among different ethnic groups.

Culture, she said, was celebrated to build knowledge, educate children, build a strong foundation for the nation and establish relations.

Mooketsi noted that by celebrating culture in the township of Orapa, the community was advancing the objectives of the slogan; Orapa Today Boteti Tomorrow.

Orapa Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM) assistant general manager, Ditiro Lentswe said Debswana continued to demonstrate its commitment to the promotion and development of arts and culture through its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme.

Lentswe said the objectives of the programme was to create a legacy of prosperity, sustainability and empower communities and the lives of Batswana.

The intention, he said, was also to ensure that Debswana did not leave mining communities worse off than when the company began operating in the area.

The programme’s annual budget, he said, was P3.75 million for OLDM in 2016 and 2017, noting that the mines spent half a million Pula in the area of arts, culture and development.

Debswana, he said, donated P50 000 towards the event and that signified their continued effort to celebrate and promote culture.

Customary Court of Appeal president, Kgosi Christopher Masunga urged parents to take the responsibility of raising children in an orderly manner upon themselves.

He expressed concern that it appeared people undermined customary marriage certificate, calling on to members of the public to respect tradition.

Kgosi Masunga encouraged people to promote and be proud of their culture.

Meanwhile, Kgosi Christinah Moloi of Orapa shared that while growing up,, they were taught to learn and internalise taboos.

Kgosi Moloi said young girls were prohibited from walking the streets with boys and children were taught to respect elderly people. ENDS