25 Sep 2018

Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security has applauded Bangwaketse for coming in droves to celebrate dikgafela recently, just two years after Kgosi Malope brought the annual cultural spectacle back to life.

Patrick Ralotsia explained to BOPA in an interview that through dikgafela, they thanked God for the last rains, good harvest and prayed for the next season to be even better.

Ralotsia explained that women wearing blue German print, carrying pots full of traditional beer on their heads, immersed in song and dance, channelled their prayers through Kgosi Malope II to God.

He observed that dikgafela also reminded Bangwaketse of their traditional order of precedence, explaining that the Gaseitsewe royal house usually precedes all wards because it represents the Queen Mother, Mma Leema.

It is also worth noting that, the women do not just join the queue anyhow, they follow the ward matriarch, usually a wife to the ward patriarch or elder, each according to their seniority at ward level, he said.

During conflict resolution, however, he shared that a bottom-up arrangement would apply, adding that complicated issues would be escalated to elders.

Ralotsia explained that the order of precedence was critical in that it encouraged Bangwaketse, especially the youth, to know and respect their elders.

While he appreciated that times have changed, he said it was important for Bangwaketse not to lose cultural values, which have served them well.

Meanwhile, as the women entered the kgotla in single file, they emptied the pots into a big calabash where Radikokwana Maswabi tasted each as they came.

Maswabi said his role was to separate the best brews from the not so good to avoid spoiling the taste, revealing that he reserved the best brews for the elders, especially magosi, as a show of reverence.

He said Bangwaketse usually enjoyed dikgafela for three consecutive days.

Although Bangwaketse took many years without the traditional thanks giving event, Maswabi was confident that they were now back on track with regards to some pertinent cultural dictates like timing, that came with it.

He said dikgafela should come before the next rain season.

Maswabi also corroborated that the Gaseitsewe family came first followed by Segwetshane, Dinaledi, Sebego and Mongala during processions.

Former President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama and former Minister of Local Government, Mr Peter Siele also graced the occasion. Ends