03 Nov 2025

Graduates of the Nkashi storytelling clubs have been applauded for actively promoting Botswana’s cultural heritage, including traditional practices and indigenous knowledge through photography and storytelling.

Batawana tribal authority senior chief representative, Kgosi Oleyo Ledimo, praised young storytellers at the official opening of a photography and storytelling exhibition at the Nhabe Museum, Maun on Friday. 

The event also celebrated their voices and creativity.

He recognised that storytellers from Okavango Delta villages were helping sustain Botswana’s heritage by producing artwork that reflects both the environment and cultures of local communities.

“What we see here proves that our young storytellers use the camera to speak the language of our ancestors and share their own authentic experiences.

They have turned memories into images and lessons into art. This is how heritage survives, through those who inherit it.” 

Kgosi Ledimo emphasised that storytellers promoted cultural heritage at community and international level, further elevating Botswana’s tourism image.

He highlighted that storytellers were photographers, historians, teachers, and guardians. 

He urged stakeholders to support them by partnering and providing platforms for their work.

He also acknowledged Nkashi Trust and Okavango Eternal for supporting storytelling clubs. He said they are committed to protecting the delta and supporting communities.

He said the organisations embodied a core conservation principle: it must be led by those who live the story. 

“This is impressive, as you are doing important work that keeps culture and conservation alive.”

Kgosi Ledimo also hailed the role of Nhabe museum in carrying the legacy of the Okavango Delta, Ngamiland, and Botswana with dignity and strength. 

The museum, he said, was not only a place for objects but a home for memory as it focused on the preservation of local history and diverse cultural expressions.

 In addition, Kgosi Ledimo stated that oral history and traditional knowledge were fragile threads that held the community’s identity together and emphasised the need to teach the youth to guard, share, and take pride in them.

Themed: Stories of our land, the exhibition, which will run for several days, provided a platform for young storytellers to showcase their work to local and international audiences, connect with potential partners and sponsors, and earn income from photography.

Monthusi Mokhanda’s picture stole the audience’s attention and was up for auction. 

The picture depicted how palm trees support livelihoods in the region.

Nkashi Trust managing director, Nlisi Motshusi, explained that the Trust was a non-profit organisation, noting that their work in the delta entailed conservation, focused on advancing knowledge through scientific research, as well as promoting sustainable community development.

The trust also engages in capacity building, community empowerment, and impact storytelling.

“Our work is highly made possible with the support of Okavango Eternal, a partnership between the National Geographic Society and De Beers Group. These are the people who enable us to do our work, including finding these young storytellers and having resources to train them,” he stated.

He thanked the Nhabe museum management for hosting the event and appreciated all the organisations that contributed toward its success. ENDS