Botswana: The members of the Batlokwa tribe gathered in the heart of their village in Gaborone to celebrate ‘Mafifatshwana Cultural Festival.’ They were led into thee celebration by their Paramount Chief, Kgosi Puso.
The celebration was hosted with the aim of highlighting the Batlokwa tribe of their rich culture and heritage. The leaders have shared that the members of the community were delighted to have the celebration.
The event was held at Tlokweng Recreational Park. The event featured several members of the Batlokwa not just celebrating their culture but reaffirming their identity, passing down traditions, and ensuring that the young people who were in attendance learnt of the background of their culture.
Kgosi Puso Gaborone delivered a brief address at the event meant to celebrate the tribe and its culture. He said that the name ‘Mafifatshwana’ is derived from their clan praises. He added that, the annual event is a celebration of Batlokwa culture and it seeks to bring them together to celebrate their heritage.
Kgosi Gaborone mentioned that Tlokweng is an accommodating village that has been growing rapidly over the years. He highlighted that, the village is geared towards developing and improving the lives of the residents. Moreover, Kgosi indicated that it is important to celebrate culture as it gives the community a sense of belonging and that they want to be an inclusive community.
“Our vision is to be a smart model village, work towards being one of the villages to participate in cultural tourism. Through the Royal Batlokwa Development Trust, we are working around the clock tirelessly to secure funds and have sponsors on board to develop and better the lives of Batlokwa”, said Kgosi Gaborone.
As the festivities continued, the Paramount Chief took to the stage to unveil the newly built Tlokweng Recreational Park though still under finishing touches, designed to be a hub for community gatherings and activities, featuring walking paths, and spaces for sports and cultural events.
At the end of the celebration, Dikgafela were presented to Kgosi Gaborone, a symbolic gesture to appease the heavens to release rain!