Human stories of the Okavango, storytellers wanted
Tuesday, April 04, 2023 | 3910 Views |
On set: The author, Thalefang Charles,
caught during production of the film PIC: BOSE BONDA
My country, Botswana, and particularly the Okavango Delta, has been the subject of several nature and wildlife films. But rarely do these films feature people. And almost never do these films acknowledge our people for their role in protecting our water, nature, and wildlife since the beginning of time.
On my journey to tell stories of the people of the Okavango, I have gotten to know some of these legendary humans, including one of the region's revered medicine men, former safari guides, and elders from our indigenous communities. They are all “living libraries” of the Delta and its traditions.
The research presented at the recent Botswana Secondary School Teachers Union symposium should serve as a wake-up call to us all.We are so focused on coding, artificial intelligence, and the jobs of tomorrow that we are neglecting the basic safety and emotional well-being of the children sitting in our classrooms today.Statistics are deeply worrying. One study revealed that 34% of secondary school learners in Gaborone meet the criteria for a...