24 Sep 2018

Technology, new fashion, the way we eat, how we dance and the music we listen is said to be factors contributing to the extinction of Setswana culture.

The sentiments were echoed by former Tatitown Customary Court president and culture activist, Ludo Mosojane at a culture day organised by John Mackenzie English Medium School in Francistownm recently under the theme: Our culture our heritage.

Mosojane started her address by defining culture as the customs, norms and civilisation of a particular tribe over time. She highlighted that new trends in technology, food and fashion have been the primary threats to the existence of Setswana culture.

“Social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter are the new cultures of today’s generation and this has eroded Botho, humility and self-respect that characterises what valuing culture is all about,” she said.

She said gone were the days when people respected the kgotla by dressing properly when visiting it, greeting the elderly, kneeling down when serving elders, giving elders a chair before being asked when they visit and removing hats when greeting them.

“Founders and past leaders of this country were raised during years of hardships, but they still maintained Botho in all aspects of their lives. That value is what got our country this far,” she said.

She also noted that gone were the days when totems were respected and meila were strictly adhered to.

 This rules which guided Batswana in the olden days, she said, had been put in place to protect them. She said they often carried spiritual energy so much that when they were not followed, misfortunes befell perpetrators.

“I grew up knowing that there were certain trees that were not supposed to be cut totally because it brought misfortune to do so and we respected that without further questions,” she said.

Furthermore, Mosojane appealed to parents of children who attended English medium schools to also teach them their culture and tradition and the importance of Botho.

She extended the same appeal to their teachers to regularly encompass teaching of culture in their studies, and to teach such pupils that there was more to life than owning big cars and luxury houses.

In her vote of thanks, the school head, Sharon Joubert thanked the teachers for having come up with the idea of a culture day, the first of its kind in the school.

Although her school had children from different countries and different cultures, the school prides itself with the fact that they identified themselves as Batswana who have embraced much of Setswana culture.

Kgosi Maruje III also attended the ceremony with his wife and child. Senn Foods sponsored the event.ENDS