24 Feb 2019

Kgosi Segale Lentswe of Bakgatla has urged Batswana to preserve and promote culture.

Speaking at a one-day Son of the Soil Kitsong cultural workshop on February 22, Kgosi Segale said preserving culture was not only for government.

Culture, he said, played an important role in developments and could be used to sustain livelihoods.

Kgosi Segale further said culture could be used to shape behaviour like it was done in the olden days. 

He said in the yesteryears, cultural activities such as moopelo were used to guide youth and instill discipline.

Moopelo, Kgosi Segale said, were also used to unite society back in the days and even in the modern era.

Bana ba Mmala Trust chairperson, Pontsho Pusoetsile said cultural preservation was about the economic bottom line hence developing a passion for culture could not be left to formal education.

Pusoetsile indicated that the value add of cultural elements could only be driven by passion, adding that family units and events such as Son of the Soil needed to play a role in promoting and preserving culture.

He further indicated that policy also needed to recognise the economic value of culture.

Meanwhile, Bana Ba Mmala Trust deputy chairperson, Thebe Phirinyane said events such as Son of the Soil promoted culture especially among the youth, noting that there was need to document Setswana culture.

Son of the Soil will be held on March 2 at Serokolokwane Lawns. 

It will feature a variety of cultural activities from traditional games, song and dance and display of traditional attire and food. ENDS