The significance of Balete as the hosts of National Culture Day
Spira Tlhankane | Friday May 19, 2017 11:14
Barwa kgodumo as the poets always hail them will always go down as the first tribe to crown a woman (Kgosi Mosadi Seboko) as their paramount Chief in August 2003.
The tribes traditionally called the Bamalete who venerate the buffalo (nare) are not one of the tribes attributed to Sotho-Tswana but rather commoners of Nguni.
According to historians, the Balete began migrating across the Transvaal highveld and travelled at length to settle permanently in Ramotswa in the middle of the 19th century. Just like most tribes who migrated then, Balete were fed up with the Boers’ demand for labour.
“The settlement of the Balete in Ramotswa was characterised by utmost determination and a careful selection of options especially of an ideal nucleated settlement pattern that had been tried before or whose details of operation were best known. The other features included a conscious intent, customary planning and a control over the exploitation of the natural resources and above all, a calculated inconsiderateness to their respective primary and secondary masters, the Bakwena and Bangwaketse,” (Kangangwani Scotch 2008).
Mokgosi I is said to have settled the Balete on a high and flat land near Makoloboto hill in Ramotswa in 1875 out of desperation because at the time the entire Ramotswa region is said to have been already claimed by the Bangwaketse.
“Ramotswa village was sited on a small communal area that was nevertheless essential for a full range of economic activities on which they depended.”
Moreover according to Scotch 2008, Balete settled there mostly influenced by the scenery, the distribution of fertile soils, a reliable and adequate water supply, abundant iron ore deposits, the kinship relations and a renowned system of land tenure and allocation.
Prior to their settlement at Makoboto Hill, during their migrations, the Balete are said to have been one of the tribes to seek refuge from Sechele of the Bakwena at Dithubaruba. Balete temporarily lived there from 1853 to 1863 until they moved and settled temporarily at Mmankgodi hill with the Bahurutshe boo-Mokhibidu until 1875.
Historians have also established that Balete left Mmankgodi to avoid Sechele’s demand of tribute. Balete wanted to be independent and move out of the territorial boundaries of both the Bangwaketse and the Bakwena. It was in the same year that the Balete successfully conquered the region and named it, “Ramotswa to suggest that they had at long last become free of the bondage they suffered since they co-existed with the Bakwena in Kweneng”.
The Balete settled at Makoloboto hills because the area was safe from the periodic floods from the Notwane and Taung
Rivers. It was in the same area where the Balete are said to have heavily defeated the Bangwaketse regiments and finally took over Ramotswa. Bangwaketse wanted to drive out the Balete from Ramotswa by force. After the victory Kgosi Gaseitsiwe then recognised the Balete as an independent tribe.
Besides the history that comes with acquiring the place, Balete is a tribe that has in the past years worked towards preserving their culture. Five years ago they held a ceremony to welcome the first revivalist class of bogwera (male initiates) and resurrect culture in the process. Kgosi Seboko named the new regiment ‘Matsosa ngwao’ (Cultural revivers) to finally bring back a tradition that was lost for 30 years.
The first revivalist of bojale (female initiates) graduated a year later after their male counterparts. Kgosi Mosadi Seboko’s younger sister, Princess Thandi was the leader of the class. It coincided with Balete culture day dubbed ‘Letsema Le Tsweletse Re Boloka Ngwao Ya Selete’ and the event became a milestone in returning the tradition that was lost. Before the event, the initiation school was cancelled for three decades.
It was a great highlight because 83 females graduated into womanhood. There has since been graduates like Mabopatshaba and other mephato like Madisamotse and Matsosangwao, as some of the contributing graduates towards the culture of Balete.
Moreover, Balete are a tribe known for serenading crowds by playing the traditional ditlhaka (reed/pipe). They boast of a group of elderly band mates from Ramotswa called Ditlhaka Traditional Group. Playing in unison, the elderly men can play different sounds ranging from soprano, alto, tenor and bass. They have the capability to fill Balete kgotla with soulful sounds as they blow the air into blowpipe or lotlhaka.
As it is the norm the poets will surely praise the host Kgosi Mosadi Seboko. “Mmaophala o phala batho, mosadi is a better organised man,” one poet once recited. Poets with their metaphors and similes always find a way to describe Balete ba bina Nare as “Ditlhaolela nageng, namane tse di dinaka diobe”.
By hosting this national event, Balete will eventually leapfrog their own culture day and one day it might reach the standards of Bakwena’s Dithubaruba Festival, Bangwaketse’s Mmakgodumo and Bakalanga’s Domboshaba festival just to mention but a few.
Other Balete tribes are settled in Southern Botswana villages such as Gabane, Otse and Mogobane.