25 Jun 2015

One of the greatest ancient political activist, Mahatma Gandhi, once said “a people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people. In our fast-forward culture, we have lost the art of eating well.”

 The first president of Botswana, the late Sir Seretse Khama also hinted, “a nation without a past is a lost nation and a people without a past is a people without a soul.” Seretse left Batswana with a legacy of preserving culture.

Therefore, Batswana should embark on soul searching mode to reach focus. The imperative in preserving Batswana’s social values that are slowly diminishing is to stick to the words of these great philosophers. The various arguments in favour of culture cannot be over-emphasised.

In the Oxford dictionary, culture is defined as the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society or rather arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively.

Speaking in an interview, Kgosi Oscar Mosielele of Moshupa decried cultural values saying they are diminishing in an appalling manner.

Kgosi Mosielele said attending kgotla proceedings without wearing jackets for men and shawl or mini blanket on shoulders for women is disrespect to the kgotla.
He said putting on hats for men at funeral proceedings is against Setswana custom and is a sign of disrespect to the mourning family and the departed soul, adding an individual also disrespects her or himself by doing so.

However, he said he is of the opinion that putting on wool head covers for men during funeral proceedings in winter is fine as it provides them with warmth.

He said people were too comfortable in such a way that they sacrifice social values for comfort citing that sitting on top of tomb shades or stones during burials, walking on top of a tomb and not squatting when seeing vehicles ferrying a corpse are signs and evidence that we have lost direction.

He said it is imperative to bury very early in the morning when the corpse is still fresh or frozen unlike late in the morning when it would be susceptible to heat and can decay, adding a body should decompose while underground.

He said in Moshupa they have resolved that by 9:30am people should be out of the cemetery. He said it is important that people should bury in the morning and go back to their places of residence to attend to other businesses.

Kgosi Mosielele said wearing slacks and chinos for women in kgotla proceedings is forbidden by Setswana custom and at the time of conducting this interview Kgosi Mosielele was in the process of disciplining two women who attempted to attend a kgotla meeting putting on slacks.

He said all these social ills should be curbed because obedience of culture is a form of identity and demonstrates high quality of Botho.

He said they cannot condone an environment whereby women attend kgotla proceedings wearing mini-skirts as that would mean traditional leaders and the public in large are not culturally conscious and does not demonstrate a sense of humility.

He said wearing mini-skirts fuels marriage break-up and as such women should dress in a decent manner.

He added that it takes a moral credible individual to recognise and appreciate the significance of culture.
He said kgotla proceedings should run smoothly in an appropriate manner without causing friction between traditional leaders and the public. 

He said it is imperative to keep quiet at burial sites to respect the dead, the mourning family and not to disturb funeral proceedings.

Kgosi Mosielele said he is creating awareness of culture in his area which plays a vital role in nation building and nurturing peace. 

He said Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama has roped in a team of traditional leaders and pastors to help rescue the situation.

Kgosi Mosielele implored law makers to recognise existence of traditional leaders (Dikgosi) as they could a vital role in promoting, driving and instilling peace, stability and Botho in their communities. ENDS