23 Jul 2013

Residents of the North East District have been informed that government has keen interest in the revival of cultures of different tribes in the country.

Delivering a keynote address during an event held to mark efforts aimed at promoting intangible cultural heritage of North East District people in Masunga on July 22, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture, Kago Ramokate said government held in high regard efforts made by various tribes to keep their cultures alive.

He said this was evidenced by among others; government’s support of cultural festivals such as the annual Domboshaba festival. Thus, Ramokate urged the organisers of the Domboshaba cultural festival to work tirelessly towards ensuring its growth; something he said would even result in people coming from other countries to grace the event.

He also informed the gathering that since Botswana signed the UNESCO agreement for the promotion of culture in 2010, efforts had been made to raise awareness on cultural issues as well as on the need for documentation on culture to ensure its preservation. He said so far, government through his ministry had taken the sensitisation campaigns to Kgatleng and Chobe districts, with North East being the third district to be visited.

 He implored residents to cooperate with researchers who were engaged to carry out research on the district’s cultural heritage, saying without their collaboration, the exercise would not be fruitful. For her part, Kgosi Freda Mosojane of Mosojane, who is the chairperson of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) programme in the district, said it was crucial for the district’s culture to be documented and practised.

She urged stakeholders to join forces in the revival and preservation of the Bakalanga culture. Giving a vote of thanks, area MP, Charles Tibone expressed gratitude for government’s efforts aimed at reviving the culture of different tribes in the country. He commended government for establishing a ministry responsible for all issues pertaining to culture, saying that would go a long way in preserving cultures Batswana.

He also hailed as a good move the decision to have all cultures documented. This, he noted would ensure that cultures live on for the benefit of future generations.ENDS