Council celebrates Letlhafula Day

Olefile Serokolo | Thursday July 27, 2017 15:25

Despite being held for the first time, the event did not disappoint as attendants flocked the park to witness the proceedings of the day. The purpose of the event was to celebrate ‘thobo’ of 2016 and also to thank God for the substantial rain showers.  Among those who graced the event were the town’s mayor Molosiwa Molosiwa, local councillors and Central District councillors.

Selebi-Phikwe town clerk, Godimo Garegope said that this was their idea as council employees.  “We had a wellness programme and socialisation or team building as part of the programme, so we decided that every employee who has ploughed to contribute what they have harvested, be it watermelons, a bag of sorghum or anything hence having this event,” he said, adding that the the event was also meant to give people love, get to know each other better as well as thank God.

He said they would appreciate feedback so that they improve going forward, as they want the event to be held annually.

Botshabelo Customary Court president, Olebogeng Mojuta who was the guest of honour at the event said celebrating letlhafula shows who we are as Batswana.

“We should celebrate who we are as a nation, pass our culture to our children so that they can continue holding onto it to preserve it.  This day is important because it is an opportunity for us to thank God for the harvest and rain he has given this nation.  The food that we are going to eat today is by the will of God therefore, it was appropriate to celebrate this day in order to give thanks,” she said.

She emphasised a need for children to be taught more about culture, “what was eaten in the past. That cultural food are more nutritious and play a major role in making our bodies healthier”.  Mojuta praised women who came attired in cultural dress upstaging their male counterparts saying it shows that they are still holding onto their culture despite fashions that come with other cultures from other countries.

With last year’s harvest aplenty, lovers of Tswana gastronomy were spoilt for choice at the event, which went on for the whole day. Traditional drinks such as bojalwa jwa Setswana and gemere were also in abundance.  The drinks, which were served in diphafana - the traditional wooden jars - left people happy and wanting more.

The dishes served at the event provided a diverse cultural menu as attendants had to pick a little of everything that was on offer to fill up a plate. Some of the traditional food served included lerotse porridge, dinawa, lethodi, variety of meat including seswaa or pounded meat and mokoto (meat from selected parts of a cow), which is traditionally for males only.