By Thatoyaone Moepetsane

Setswana, a language and culture rich in history and tradition, faces the threat of erosion in today’s fast-paced, globalised world. As we celebrate our diversity, preserving the arts, culture, and language that make us who we are is crucial. In this article, we’ll explore ways to safeguard the Setswana heritage and profile two dedicated individuals leading the charge.

The Setswana language and culture are intertwined, reflecting the community’s values, customs, and history. Preserving this heritage ensures cultural identity and pride, continuity and connection to ancestors, diversity and inclusivity, and economic benefits through tourism and cultural exchange.

Ways to Preserve Setswana Arts, Culture, and Language

1. Language Education: Integrate the Setswana language into school curricula and promote language exchange programs.
2. Cultural Festivals: Organise events celebrating Setswana music, dance, art, and traditions.
3. Community Engagement: Establish cultural centres, museums, and libraries showcasing Setswana heritage.
4. Technology: Utilise digital platforms for language learning, cultural documentation, and storytelling.
5. Collaborations: Partner with artists, writers, and educators to promote Setswana arts and culture.

Introduction and Background

1. Can you introduce yourself and share your connection to the Setswana culture and language?

I am Dr Godisamang Desmond Kegakilwe Kgosi of Barolong Baga Kegakilwe Sub Traditional Council Covering Tlakgameng and Kudunkgwane Villages with various sections.

This village is the mainstay of the Barolong Tribe, which is part of Broader Barolong and the Batswana nation. They speak the Setswana language.

2. What sparked your interest in preserving Setswana arts, culture, and language?

Culture is our existence, and language is the main element identifying Batswana. Batswana’s existence, sustenance, and livelihoods have always depended on their ways of life, which are based on their culture. The arts assist us in defining our lives and translate how we view the world, historically and for future generations.

Personal Experiences and Insights

1. How did you learn Setswana, and what challenges did you face?

Setswana is natural, but the challenge is its lack of knowledge among young people and some modern words in the language.

2. What role does Setswana play in your daily life, and how do you incorporate it into your work or community?

It defines who we are and the form of daily communication.

3. Have you noticed any changes in how Setswana is perceived or valued over time?

Yes, over time, some words are no longer in use, and how they are written, I think, is changing.

Preservation Efforts

1. What initiatives or projects are you involved in to preserve Setswana arts, culture, and language?

I have no particular role that I play

2. How do you think technology can aid in preserving the Setswana language and culture?

In translation of the language

3. What role do you believe education plays in preserving cultural heritage?

More educational material in the language can assist a lot.  

Challenges and Solutions

1. What challenges do you face in preserving Setswana arts, culture, and language?

The promotion of identity threatens the existence of culture and language.

2. How can we encourage younger generations to embrace and preserve the Setswana culture?

They should embrace and learn about their origins.

3. What policy changes or support would you like to see from the government or institutions?

Each school promotes its history and identifies itself with local culture and knowledge to preserve the history of each area where the school is situated.

Conclusion

1. Any final thoughts or advice for those interested in preserving the Setswana culture?

Promotion of the language in songs, language, and writing more. Have a cultural corner in the libraries.

2. How can our readers support or get involved in preserving Setswana arts, culture, and language?

By owning up to the language and promoting it on all the platforms, especially social media.

Introduction and Background

Ke bitswa fela go twe Karabo Mangwekea, a language activist and scholar. I was born and raised in Tlakgameng Village. I am better known for my passion and dedication to promoting and preserving my language, Setswana, by all means. Setswana as a language and culture goes hand in glove; they are inseparable. My connection with the Setswana language culture is deriving  motivation from me being Motswana: Rata sa gago mme o se tlhoe sa ga ope. I am connected to this language on those bases.

Setswana and other Indigenous African Languages have experienced harsh treatment and judgement from society for some time, and the history of our country bears reference to that. Setswana has been marginalised and I never got exposed to promotion and development while growing up. This state motivated me to fall in love with my language even more. The promotion and preservation of language lie entirely on its users, so using language and practising all cultural activities attached to the language are giving it more momentum to develop and be preserved.

Language Research and Preservation

I am currently researching the poetic aspect of Setswana with special reference to the curriculum, teaching and learning of this literary genre in schools. The prime purpose of this research is to demystify the misconception that Setswana cannot be studied at the Post-graduate level, specifically the Ph.D. level, and to equally clear the misconception that Setswana Poetry is a difficult subject to teach and learn in the classroom context.

Any language that is being used holistically, being it in research, curriculum, politics, economy, socially and otherwise, automatically gets promoted, developed and preserved. So, the research intends to demonstrate that we can and should intellectualise Setswana as an academic and scientific language, not only as a communication and cultural aspect but holistically within the face of our communities.

There is a misconception that the Setswana language cannot be used holistically in the communities. Therefore, the research aims to prove the misconception that even with our Indigenous African languages, we can realise that the curriculum (teaching and learning) of any subject can be delivered and understood.

Challenges and opportunities

Challenges that I have identified are those of inferiority complex amongst the Setswana Language users. Our people are still living in the past with the wrong mentality that our African languages are not that developed to be used holistically like European languages. Even this article is being generated in English, proving that there is a lack of confidence amongst the Setswana interlocutors. Ka tshwanelo re ne re tshwanetse go tlhaeletsana ka Setswana ka go nne re bua dikgang tsa Setswana. Ke sone se Prof Malope and Setshedi was advocating for by Setswana ka Setswana Nothing for Setswana without Setswana. Some language users are still lacking behind in terms of promoting our language and perpetually promoting the hegemonic status of European languages

There are a lot of opportunities within education, media and government. Research and curriculum delivery of Setswana as a language and as a language of teaching and learning exposes its users to be qualified as teachers, researchers and personnel in the sector. Various Media platforms are in demand of Setswana writers, journalists and so forth. Even though there might be progress registered at a snail’s pace, there are opportunities which can be acquired through this language. All government departments have or may prevail opportunities for the Setswana language by means of translation, interpretation and communication of official departmental communiques.

Future Aspirations and Collaborations

I wish to see more research studies conducted in Setswana and for Setswana because any language that is not being used to its maximum has the potential of experiencing extinction.

Community engagement is the central pillar of any research. With that being said, I would like to collaborate with any scholar, teacher or community member who shares the same sentiments about promoting and preserving the language. I equally believe that we can brighten up the Setswana corner wherever we are with whatever we can do as long as the language promotion can live to see the light of  day.

The only support I long for is to see my fellow Batswana standing up wherever they are and doing all that it takes to see to it that the language is used for various purposes. I think government institutions can support this idea by investing in this intellectual idea to provide for financial needs to any project that seeks to promote our language. For example, supporting students who would like to further their studies in the Setswana language.

Practical Applications

The research will carry well-researched thoughts and recommendations on how to approach language questions in the teaching and learning of the 21^st century. One of these will be based on Setswana’s recommendations to be used as a language of teaching and learning across the entire curriculum. I am currently working on my PhD in Setswana, which is the initiative I took some years ago to realise the reality of intellectualisation of the language itself.

Conclusion

I can only conclude and say Pelo e senang phufa selo e a bo e se sa yona and Polawa ke mong ga e na lobelo. We should do all in our power to preserve our Setswana language and culture precisely because it is ours, and should we fail to do that as indigenous users, we will be left with feathers whilst the bird is gone. Our writers must continue to write in Setswana, and all emerging writers should be supported because without writers we cannot have readers. Youth and the community are urged to develop a reading culture, specifically reading books and content written in our language. Setswana se ke sa rona re se rata ka mmele pelo le maikutlo, a re se dibeleng ka tsotlhe tseo re ka di kgona. Malebo.

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About the author:

Thatoyaone Moepetsane – born in the year 1992, born at Tlakgameng village, North West Province, started school at Seitsang Primary, active politician, started to be involved in the politics at the high school, still involved to date, author and social entrepreneur.