Basarwa Meet Their Swedish Counterparts
Leinanyana Tsiane | Monday September 22, 2014 16:58
The Sami were on a return leg to D’Kar, after a cultural exchange trip to Sweden by a group of Basarwa early this year.
The Swedish indigenous tribe was invited by the Kuru Family of Organisation.
The two groups have a lot in common as was evident during the cultural night. The Swedish were able to join and fit in well, dancing and moving to the rhythm and beat of the Sesarwa songs. The Sami are found mostly in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Kola Peninsula of Russia and the 12-member group that visited D’Kar came from these Scandinavian countries and Russia.
Some Sami looked like they were in a trance while reciting some poems, very much in the characteristics similar to Basarwa artists when they perform healing songs.
Such similarities were acknowledged by the coordinator of the visiting group, Erik Enstrom.
He said just like the San, the Sami have rock paintings similar to ones found in the Tsodilo Hills, have tough socio-economic problems and they are good traditional dancers.
“This is a cultural exchange and we are hoping that the relationship that we have with the Basarwa will be a lifelong one. If all goes well we want this to be an annual thing,” said Enstrom.
The director of Letloa Trust, Kaelo Mokomo explained that the relationship between the two groups was facilitated by the University of Botswana (UB) and Umea University in Sweden.
“The relationship was established last year for academic and cultural research purposes through the San Research Center at UB. The UB established collaboration with Umea University hence the visits. We would like to see this grow and invite other San groups from other countries,” Mokomo said.
The Sami are known to be reindeer herders and their traditional wear is called Gakti, which they done during ceremonies and while working especially while herding.