"This event should be an annual event that should go with dikgafela," he said.
Seepapitso IV added that if Bangwaketse and Batswana at large appreciated and loved themselves they should bring their harvest to the Kgotla and celebrate dikgafela, which he called a holy day. The kgosi went on to say that in the past there used to be some storages at the Kgotla. Although some thought the storages were for the kiosk, Seepapitso explained that the tributes did not belong to the dikgosi but they (dikgosi) were just custodians.
"If we kept this practice, our government wouldn't need to send an official to go and beg for food outside the country every year," he said.
The outspoken traditional leader asked the district council to return the storages to the morafe so that he could use them to feed his people. Seepapitso IV also said that he was worried that Batswana were losing respect for bogosi. "Birds have their own king and it's a small king but they respect, it as for our people it's a different story altogether," the kgosi said to the amusement of his listeners.
According to the kgosi, the Kgotla is a hallowed ground and people should revere it. "I am a custodian of the Ngwaketse culture and in this Kgotla women sit when they address the Kgotla and men stand when they do so. Women are also not allowed to wear trousers in this Kgotla. We are told that men and women are equal but some things will never be allowed to happen in this Kgotla," the kgosi said empathetically.
The kgosi said in the past people used to drink bojalwa ja Setswana for refreshment and that during those days people socialised in a civil manner and there were no fights. As the kgosi took the first sip of the bojalwa ja Setswana as is common practice, women ululated. The traditional leader who more than not addressed issues concerning Bangweketse as opposed to foreigners whom he said were influencing them to turn their backs on their culture. The event attracted a large crowd from all over Botswana and neighbouring countries. The theme for this year was: 'Culture Is My Business' and the guest speaker was Assistant Minister of Education, Peter Siele. Some of the groups that performed were Dikwena Cultural Artists which performed tsutsube and phathisi dances, Sesung Traditional Dance Group whose female lead singer is a force to be reckoned with and Ba ga Mmanaana Cultural Group. Dikwena, a group from Tlhareseleele spiced the event by performing a Sesotho traditional dance
Organisations such as Tebelopele, Barclays Bank, Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) and First National Bank (FNB) showcased their products. One of the most impressive stalls was the Tebelopele pavillion, which departed from the tradition of displaying things that they use every day in their organisation. Instead they went in with the theme and showcased traditional food that they encouraged their visitors to eat as part of positive living. They also challenged some traditional sayings like "Monna selepe o amoganwa" loosely translated "A man can have as many female loves as he wants", saying that time for such reckless behaviour is over in this era of HIV/AIDS.
One of the stalls that attracted people was one belonging to a traditional doctor who was reluctant to share the details of his trade with his admirers. After lunch, which comprised of traditional dishes, the people were given a chance to play or learn traditional games like semerika, mhele, morabaraba, diketo and kweba as they washed down the food with bojalwa ja Setswana.
