07 May 2023

The inaugural A re Itsaneng Ma Africa (Uniting Africans in One) cultural exchange event has been hailed for celebrating the continent’s rich cultural heritage.

Giving a keynote address at the cultural event at Dinkgwana Chillas in Mochudi on Saturday, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mabuse Pule, said the event, the first of its kind in Botswana, embodied unity in diversity.

He said the celebration of cultural heritage ensured and safeguarded its continuity to benefit future generations.

He added that the cultural renaissance was in line with the 2001 National Policy on Culture, which sought to keep Batswana in touch with their rich and diverse cultural heritage. 

“Events such as A re Itsaneng Ma Africa create awareness on the importance of culture in socio-economic development, provide a platform for information sharing among cultural practitioners and showcase diverse cultures in the form of exhibitions and performances,” he said. 

Again, he said the event provided an opportunity to celebrate African diversity and success as well as highlight the cultural and economic potential that existed on the African continent. 

Pule, also Member of Parliament for Kgatleng East, reiterated government’s commitment to the promotion, preservation and development of culture through various programmes and assistance offered to artists in recognition of the crucial role played by the arts.

He commended Joy Setshedi of Joy Foundation for responding well to government’s efforts to promote and sustain culture by providing an enabling environment for the success of the historic event, which he said would be on the national events calendar.

Member of Parliament Kgatleng West, also Minister of Trade and Industry, Mmusi Kgafela said they had been honoured as Bakgatla to host the event of such magnitude.

Kgafela said the event was a great milestone in achieving cultural tourism. 

For her part, A re Itsaneng Ma Africa patron, Mohumagadi Mma Matshego who is the wife of Kgosikgolo Kgafela II, said the concept aimed to close the gap that existed in understanding and appreciating the cultural heritage of all African communities.

“I am thrilled and excited to become the patron as this resonates with my love for the African continent and its rich culture as we all agree that food, dance, arts and celebrations are the glue for nation building everywhere.  Africa is a beautiful, diverse, unique and wealthy continent of nations each with a unique cultural identity,” she said.

Mma Matshego added that Africa had a lot of potential in exploring, preserving and celebrating cultural heritage and thus urged government and international organisations to continue to support and nourish growth in that aspect. 

She, however, regretted that that Africans did not know each other to a point where they feared one another, something she said had caused many cultural conflicts with some leading to loss of life.

“We know that love conquers a multitude of things. If we know, appreciate and understand our neighbors, then it becomes easy to accept and have them live amongst us brothers and sisters,” she said.

A re Itsaneng Ma Africa coordinator, Setshedi said the event was organised with the aim to unite Africans to come together as one through the learning of different cultures.

“We want to create a platform for culture showcasing through supporting and encouraging artists to work together for a common good,” she said.

Setshedi added that the event did not have a sponsor, but was nevertheless made possible by the Joy Foundation and their patron, Mma Matshego. 

She said they invited different tribes in Botswana and other countries such as South Africa, Lesotho, eSwatini and Zimbabwe. 

In his remarks, deputy paramount chief of Bakgatla ba Kgafela, Kgosi Bana Sekai said he was thankful for the event which was meant to show cultural diversity from different tribes and people.

“This creates an opportunity for artists to get publicity while at the same time learning culture from one another,” he said. ENDS