Ululating comes to Pres Day Comp - Makgalemele

Bonte Seepi | Friday May 24, 2019 13:04

 

MYSC Assistant Minister, Phillip Makgalemele revealed the new thinking during the annual National Culture Day at Palapye Kgotla on Tuesday. He said they might include ululations in the categories that compete in the President’s Day competitions.

 The move is aimed a fulfilling the wishes of some artists.  In his view, ululating is a special skill, which needs to be nurtured.

The Minister also promised reasonable payments for artists when their performance during government’s events.

This is yet another way of enhancing them such events. Makgalemele further encouraged the youth to use different social media platforms such as facebook to share and preserve cultural knowledge.

He called upon Batswana to find ways of protecting and preserving cult

ure saying it is the backbone of the country. He said the reason for opting for the youth to utilise social media platforms was to ensure that culture is passed to upcoming generation.

Makgalemele added, “Culture is a complex and dynamic that is why it is often misunderstood, but since we are living in the 21st century, we ought to be more complex and technologically advanced”.

He emphasised that culture should be part of people’s lives as it defines who they are. It is also a social fabric of traditional lifestyle that reflects where people come from and where they are going. Makgalemele further pointed out that the theme for the day “Ngwao ke boikarabelo jwa me” translated ‘Culture is my responsibility’ emphasized the responsibility of every member of the community both young and old to promote their diverse cultures in all spheres of human endeavour, hence calls for the youth to bring creativity.

Similarly I said safeguarding cultural heritage is a crucial step because any culture which is neglected, despised or even unappreciated and not practiced will automatically disappear.

For his part, Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education, Research science and Technology Moiseraele Goya said it was every Motswana’s responsibility to protect their culture and see to it that it does not become extinct. He said Batswana should be jealously guard their culture and ensure that no one influences them against it.

He applauded Dikgosi for their continued protection of culture even in the 21st century when people are living in a more complex world. He said the community should follow the customary court leader’s footsteps.  Even though Bangwato as the hosts were deservingly given the focus during the day, the event managed to represent a few of the country’s other cultures and diversity such as Bakalanga through their Dihosana group, Batswapong through their Dikhwaere, Bangwaketse through their famous artist Ditiro Leero. Another notable aspect on the day was that many people who flocked the Kgotla dressed up for the occasion.