Dithubaruba Symposium slated for UB
Maureen Odubeng | Thursday August 24, 2017 16:36
The Symposium will have a number of speakers who will enrich attendees’ knowledge of ga-Mokwena history, and Kgosi Sechele I.
“The symposium will be academically focused, and speakers will present on Kgosi Sechele I’s life, as well as the history of his people,” Dithubaruba spokesperson, Tlamelo Letlole said.
He further explained that the symposium will however also have non-academic presenters, mostly chiefs from buffer states of Dithubaruba settlement.
“The 2016 Symposium explored and unpacked the concept of Dithubaruba as a nation building model. The objective of the 2017 symposium focuses on what may be termed buffer states of Dithubaruba settlement, being Ramotswa, Tlokweng, Mochudi, and Kanye. There will be a speaker on each of these places who will focus on the relations of Bakwena with the neighbouring merafe, as well as the history of the morafe with that of Dithubaruba. Speakers will be drawn from magosi, historians and academics,” Letlole explained.
This year’s cultural festival will be celebrated under the theme, ‘Defining our future by examining ourselves’ (Golo re go yang ka go ipatla le go ipatlisisa).
The symposium seeks to educate the community on the historical and national significance of Dithubaruba as an important cultural heritage for Bakwena, and Botswana.
Kgosi Kgari III of Bakwena, will give welcome remarks, and other magosi expected to give presentations at the event include, Kgosi Mosadi Seboko of Balete, and Batlokwa leader, Kgosi Puso Gaborone.
Speakers who will present academic papers include Prof Seratwa Ntloedibe-Kuswane, Prof Christian Makgala, Prof Brian Mokopakgosi, and Prof Fred Morton.
Academic and poet, Barolong Seboni’s presentation will dramatise the life of Kgosi Sechele 1 through literature analysis.
Those interested in attending the symposium will be pleased to know that entrance is free. Petleke encouraged Bakwena, and Batswana from other tribes to attend the symposium to learn about the country’s history.
On August 26, there will be Dithubaruba Adventure Walk organised by Dithubaruba Cultural Festival Committee in collaboration Y-Care Charitable Trust, as well as a cycling exercise. The main purpose of the walk is to accord the public an opportunity to see the historical sites. Oral historians will give participants an overview of the sites, and answer questions. The walk and cycling exercise will start from the Kgari Sechele 1 Museum, but will take different routes.