10 Mar 2019

Kgosi Simon Nkgageng of Tati Siding says Botswana has a diverse culture which can be articulated in various ways.

Giving a keynote address during the Shashe Brigade Culture Day recently, Kgosi Nkgageng said in the past culture was expressed through an assortment of traditional dance, reciting of poems, traditional leather attire, cuisine and ornaments.

He said Bakhurutshe demonstrated how in the past they would bring their harvest in weaved baskets to their kgosi.

The harvest, he said, included water melons, sorghum, maize, beans and sweet reed.

Kgosi Nkgageng urged the community to share what they learnt in order to preserve culture.

“You have seen sorghum being pounded to produce sorghum meal,” he said.

He explained that in the past bran was given to herdmen at the cattle post who would pound it further before cooking it with milk.

The meal, he said, needed no relish and yet was able to sustain one throughout the day.

Kgosi Nkageng said unlike in the past, people now preferred meat as part of their meal, and that some with livestock indiscreetly slaughtered their animals thus opening a door for poverty.

He said in the past when a man desired to marry, he would inform his uncles who would then find him a suitable partner.

In the good old days, he said men would spend their afternoon drinking traditional brew then later return home to their spouses.

This, he said, had changed because nowadays men binged on beer after which they went home and abused their partners.

Still at the event, young girls were taught how to carry themselves in a respectful manner.

Mokopanyi Sebina of Lentswe la Bomme group shared that children’s upbringing was the responsibility of the community.

Speaking about the girl child, she said ngwana wa mosetsanyana ke selwana, o tlaa go tsenya mo metseng ya batho, meaning when a girl eventually got married, their parents were forced to relate with the other family hence it was important for girls to carry themselves well.

For her part, the school head, Lebogang Tlalanyane said the purpose of the day was to appreciate and learn culture. ENDS