Deconstructing Dithubaruba :: Mmegi Online

‘Dithubaruba; a place, a concept and a phenomenon’. This was the theme of a symposium held at University of Botswana (UB) last Thursday aimed to unpack the meaning and history of Dithubaruba. The seminar saw presentations from Bakwena tribesmen covering various aspects of Dithubaruba such as settlement, leadership, theology, migration, nation-building and literature. Staff Writer THALEFANG CHARLES reports

After 164 years of Kgosi Sechele’s strategic retreat from Dimawe to Dithejwane Hills, on this 50th year of Botswana’s independence and 10 years of Dithubaruba Cultural Festival, five Bakwena tribesmen namely Kgosi Keineetse Sebele, Barolong Seboni, Seratwa Ntloedibe, Titus Mbuya and Geoffrey Barei took to the podium to pay homage to Kgosi Sechele’s often overlooked significance on the formation of Botswana by examining Dithubaruba.

Dithubaruba, an area situated at Dithejwane Hills west of Molepolole, was the capital of Bakwena from around 1853 to 1863 before they relocated to Ntsweng in Molepolole. The place, which sometimes is referred to as Seokomedi, according to Ntloedibe, has been described as the birthplace of modern day Botswana.

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