AFRICAN BATSWANA PEOPLE CEREMONIES

BATSWANA people have special ceremonies that they do to celebrate, grief and to call upon their ancestors.All of these ceremonies are special and have a specific way in which they're done.

FUNERAL-PHITLHO

Batswana people grief in a special way, first when someone dies in a community the family of the deceased will paint their windows with ashes.For the whole week a group of people will come together to help with shopping the woods to make fire, when the sunset it will be songs of which speaks to "Modimo" a higher being so the dead can rest well.On Thursday the will be meet for uncles and all men in the community "Mbesu" this meat have to be eaten in the yard and finished there while it is still hot.On Fridays that's when they slaughter a cow , all men will come to help, women will help with pelling the vegetables and cooking food for Saturday and same day the casket will come homeeto sleep home for the last time .On Saturday that's the funeral time, the deceased will be bought early in the morning to be seen for the last time.by the family.Praised and people who were close will tell their experiences that they had with the deceased.Lastly the casket will be accompanied by everyone who attended to the graveyard, people will wait until they see the casket going down into the whole after that they will go back to the yard to get food then travel back to their houses.On Sunday the deceased belongs will be shared amongst the family, very early in the morning.

ANCESTORS' CEREMONY -MPHABADIMO

This is a special kind of ceremony, where the Batswana people celebrate their ancestors.They make a special alcohol called - Mxoboxi a veryhealthyhome brewed alcohol, they also make little special food usually this ceremony is not attended by a large number of people in most cases it is people who are close to the family and neighbours.Everythi have to be done before 12:00 am.

CLEANSING-DITLHAPISO

This is a ceremony specifically for the family to cleanse bad luck and bad spirit, when the family loses their love one it is believe that they get "Sehihi" a bad luck let's take uncle in this case.When uncle dies after a period of time a family will come together, from nephews , grandparents, aunties, etc however it will be a maternal family only that will be allowed to do cleansing in this case.This kind of cleansing it is done around 04:00am when it is still dark so that people won't see ,they will put allow inside of the water and start to wash -fast the family members it has to be an elder who does this if another uncle is available then will be the relevant one to do the work , including cutting the family members hair.

LEBOLONG- INITIAL SCHOOL FOR TEENAGERS

Usually the boy/girl teenage will be taken to a jungle for a period of 3 months or more to be taught how to be men or women.Here you are taught very special things that you can't share with anyone who have not went there , you are taught things of the roots, you come as a being who have a special knowledge.On your arrival you're welcomed by the community , you will sing and praise yourself while everyone is watching you.You will be with those who went to initiation school with singing together, and you will sleep a special house until the ceremony is finished it takes 3-7 days for the ceremony to get finished.Then you will bath and you'll be able to sleep inside the house as a man/woman.

LENYALO -WEDDING

This goes for most of African tribes not only Batswana people.When you found your soul mate the person that you want to spend the rest of your life specifically as a man.You will need to ask the family of your woman to give you their child.The first thing you do is you tell your uncles and elders at your home , they will write a letter or send a messenger to the woman's family.After that part the uncles will go to the woman's house when invited wait infront of the yard before entering they have to tell who they are and what what bought them there.In other families they have to pay a fee to enter, uncles will negotiate with the elders of the woman for "Lobola" "magadi" a fee that is paid to the woman's family for taken care of the woman.When all that is done the ceremony can begging everyone in the community will be invited, songs will be heard from far, dances will be kissing with the soil, food will be eaten and families will celebrate together with the community until the man and woman leaves together when the ceremony is over.Just to add on the lobola can also be in a form of cows , Batswana always believed that cows are the wealth of a tswana person because they get milk and meat out of it.

Written by:Kagiso sejamoholo