08 Apr 2024

Ga twe e rile... (Once upon a time), was a phrase so repeated in a gathering at Gaborone’s Thapong Visual Arts Centre that one could not help but feel nostalgia creeping in.

Ga twe e rile... is a prelude to every traditional Setswana folktale.

Upon realising that the tradition is fading away, Esteres Agency, a mainly motivation organisation, Tefo Paya from Top Art, as well as seasoned authors; Dr Nankie Ramabu, Emmanuel Boefelo, and renowned poet and host of Sekhutlwana sa Bannye radio programme, Edwin Moroka, collaborated to try and bring it back.

It is against such a backdrop that the group of cultural enthusiasts over the weekend treated children to folktale presentations.

The event dubbed: Ga twe e rile, also featured interactive activities, presentations and traditional games including morabaraba, mhele and koi, among others.

Michelle Phetlhe, the founder of Esteres, stated that it was critical to preserve the essence of storytelling, adding that folklore tales contained valuable moral lessons that taught children about kindness, honesty, and bravery among other virtues.

She said through such tales, children were also able to learn and understand the essence of perseverance and integrity, which also closed the gap between the young and the old, cultivated a sense of belonging and enabled children to embrace the past while looking forward to the future.

“It is important to keep up the spirit and essence of folk tales to encourage empathy and unity among children as they grow up. This can also help in strengthening family ties. 

From way back such tales were often told at a household comfort zone with family members gathered together,” she said.

Although folk tales were aspects of cultural identity that helped shape and define individuals, Phetlhe expressed concern that the spirit of sharing them was gradually fading away. 

Therefore, she said it was critical to strive to intertwine storytelling with technology as a way of preserving the art.

Some of the folk tales shared included such legends as Masilo le Masilonya, Mmutla le Tlhware le Tshwene, with the moral lesson encouraging unity, Botho and love for one another. Ends