Botswana Museum Blog

guest speaker Kgosi Mosadi Seboko at Mogonye Sponsored Walk A true initiative with participation of Mogonye community and National Museum to raise funds for the development of Mogonye gorge and its heritage trail.The initiative is a welcome development indeed.The sponsors included BSB workers, Onbord magazine, information sysytem, Senn Foods, mahube Express, Gantsi Beef, tebelopele, Bofwa.

Well, at any given time there are many different standards of ethics around the world, depending on where you are. The main thing to know is that ethics are winding down, things are getting less ethical, and they are developing into something worse. Cups manufactured by traditional methods versus the modern ones? from ethnographic collections

Artists to give Bonnington silos facelift LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI Correspondent  from Mmegi Newspaper The National Museum and Monuments, in collaboration with the Department of Youth and Thapong Arts Centre, has commissioned local artists to paint murals on the silos located at the Bonnington farm. The Bonnington farm is located in Block 5 near the Grand Palm Hotel. The silos are visible along the Gaborone-Molepolole road. The murals will depict the history of the farm.National Museum and Monuments deputy director Steve Mogotsi said the Bonnington silos are considered to be a national monument.Mogotsi said their future plan is to turn the farm into an open-air museum. He said they could also exhibit the agro-related implements, which are stored in the silos. If funds are available, they also intend to rebuild the farmhouse and convert the it into a mini museum. Another possible addition could be a coffee shop. The mini museum could be used as a place where people could gathe...

Sorry for blog posting delay. Its mainly server challenges. there is a lot that has happened notably a month long  trip to 100 monuments by a consortium of 6 researchers each made of a botanist, ethno-historian, archeologist, a geologist, endermotologist and a film photographer.It was huge covering most part of Botswana and we are all confident it will bear fruit.This is a movement to make communities earn from their heritage, wala An exhibition themed, Enlivening our values was no doubt a resounding success. The comments by visitors at the exhibition show the outstanding creativity of the curatorial team that worked tirelessly to put this up.It coincided with International Museum Day entittled, Museum and Social Harmony. Okavango Delta is making headlines around the world, no wonder its being listed on World Heritage Listing. And its done here at the Museum.As of now we are working around the clock through the Director of course to consult communities around the area. This ...

Rain Making site(shrine) in Tlokweng is ovetaken by developments of roads and sewage system.A plea has been instituted by Batlokwa Tribal Authorities through the Paramount Cheif Puso Gaborone to protect and preserve the site.The National Museum is engaged to intervene, the Museum and Relic Act is used to halt this impeding development.Motswediwaditso investigates the nature of the site, its location, its fuctional purpose and its significance.Sub cheif Matlapeng highlights.

A beautiful shot of Thato Moahi showcasing Basarwa traditional garment protected at ethnographic collections: to be adapted in the upcoming ethnohistoric catalogue.The shot was carefully taken by Tshepiso at Arts and Culture . A 4 day seminar, 2-5th February 2010  was held by UNESCO through the Ministry of Culture at Camels Inn at Mmopane: the core theme was Intagible Heritage.It was officially openend by the Minister of Sports, Youth and Culture and directed by Mr Chifunyesi who sits in the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee.Botswana has submitted its intention to ratify 2003 Conention on Safeguarding Intagible Heritage.At the core of this is to help Botswana document its intagible heritage.The Museum as custodian of culture sits in the steering committee.

pic coutesy of National Museum Audio Visual Division: Dikgafela rennaisance from Moshopa village 2009: Celebrating harvesting season: Iconic feature, leaving pots on head unaided. Happy 2010 collegues, we hope its going to be a wonderful year now  that the world  economic recession is hinting an upward turn, the National Museum is set to continue its objective in particular Monument develoment.This however does not mean the Museum shall ignore its other core activities.Motswediwaditso radio program for one is still here recording and airing Botswana oral traditions, this week we feature taboos associated with cattle, modimo o nko  e metsi. A c ow is a symblol  of wealth for most Batswana, such that if you dont have it  you are considreed poor, that is why statistaically there are more cattle than people in Botswana . Today Elderly Informants from Makalamabedi, Mr Ramokhu Sokwane, Dikgwa Montsho, Botema Tshekiso and ...

Incase you have seen something like this around Tuli block or Bobirwa area, please alert National Museum or Geological Surveys.Pic coutesy of Wikiedia as seen at Oregon state in the USA Mr Mohutshiwa Gabadirwe, Botswana National Museum Geologist this Sunday will further inform Motswediwaditso Listeners after a press release from Botswana Daily News about a phenemoneon of a falling shooting star from the sky.Those who have extensively studied this are geologists. What is even more interesting is how the radio crew notably the producer, Ms Motlotle, the Presenter, Ms Sibanda are able to capture the views and opinions of Batswana about this phenemenon.Relating this occurance to the death of a King or Chief by the public interviwed is quite fascinating. The World search Wiki has this to say about this strange unusual occurance: A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Most meteorites derive from small...

Moments captured at Tsodilo World Heritage site coutesy of Photography Unit, behind the scene, a seasoned photographer Mr Manele  A new trust which is jointly funded by Debswana and De Beers has donated P10 million to a trust fund that administers a number of community projects in the Tsodilo area. The trust, which is known as the Diamond Trust, was launched this week.Tsodilo Hills is a UNESCO world heritage site of universal significance. Its history is depicted through preserved archaeological records chronicling human activities and environmental changes that span more than 100 000 years. Among other things the trust would actively engage Tsodilo communities not only in the benefits that may accrue, but also in their responsibility to take of natural resources.Among the speakers at this event were the Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Sheila Khama and Tsodilo Chiefs..Motswediwatso airs this significant event. ...

This is to announce that there is an upcoming formulation of policy on Indigeneuos knowldge systems, a welcome develoment indeed from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology: Department of Research Science and Technology (DRST). As a custodian, repository of Botswana cullture, The National Museum is duly represented and is sitting in the steering committee.The details of terms of reference will be attached as soon as a consultancy to carry out the work is identified.

Debswana and De Bebeers tthrough Diamond Trust, an initiative aimed to support community-based projects  finaly reaching  fruition this coming week, on the 19th November 2009. The first project to receive funds from the P10 million trust is the Tsodilo Hills Heritage site and it will be duly faciliated by Letloa Trust, the National Museum and communities of Tsodilo.Other departments include Tourism, Lands and other stakeholders. From the Museum a detailed Integrated Management Plan will be presented for the whole management of the Tsodilo Hills.This event will be officially launched by honorouble Kitso Mokaila, the Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism. This Sunday, The Director of the National Museum, Mr Phorano and Corporate Investment Manager, Mr Barulaganye Mogotsi from Diamond Trust  tell the listerners what the project entails.                 ...

Out of the 100 sites, explored and investigated here at the National Museum they are emerging tales, legends that are informed by archeological, natural, ethnological, and historical evidences.An  enthusiatic team encompassing all the afore mentioned disciplines has been dispatched into the field in the Southern region beginning the 2nd of November 2009 to undertake reasearch to unearth ramanants of Botswana cultures. What is emerging from the first monumental picture is that this footprint is found in Kanye, this site has recently been recommended as a site worth development.Pic coutersy of Museum Photography Unit. Another footprint attributed to Matsing measuring over 32cm in length, is found near Mochudi. the distance is well over 200km. A left footprint is at the Kobokwe Cave, which is at least 50km away from Mochudi. Another footprint can be found at Tswapong. This footrint depicted here  is clearl...

Additional 100 heritage sites are probed for possiblities of tourism and ultimatelty employment for communities.Among them there is Lecha la kgoro at Kgoro village:Borolong area.Motsenekatse ruins in Molapowabojang, Mmalegaga gorge in Lentsweletau, Matsieng footprint in Kanye just to mention a few.Here on your right is a portion of the amazing Mmamotshwane gorge found in the village of Mogonye which has been turned into a true monumental site.Over the weekend, I met an ardent adventurer who has toured most parts of Botswana who told me how the Museum has indeed made a sterling job by ensuring the area is accessible.This gentleman had last toured this site in the 80s which by then was not easily accessible.However he thought the fee charged to enter was a bit steep, do you think the same?

Revival of Dikgafela cultural festival, long abondoned tradition is celebrated in Moshupa for the first time since Botswana Independence in the 60s.Motswediwaditso investigated this tradition and how it can be used to alleviate poverty in todays context just as it was used as a social intervention for those who did not have enough food in the past. photo taken from museum photography division

Botswana National Museum and Monuments enters into contract with Komatsu for Three Chiefs Monument Development on the 5th October 2009 in the Art Conference room.Representing the Museum from the left is Principal Curator Archeology: Mr Mokobi and Mr Mogotsi, Deputy Director, Komatsu is reperesented by Mr  Ngakayagae and Martin Cowley the  General Manager.

This blog serves to give all Departments at National Museum Monuments Motswedi wa Ditso Radio Program radio line up.Have a look and make suggestions and comments on how we can on a weekly basis redefine this program and make it what the Museum strives to achieve. There is a listernership survey for museum employees at the bottom please fill this questionnaire to revamp Motswedi wa Ditso in accordance with your answer.This is a blog poll and cannot replicate all radio listeners.

This basket carefully knitted and woven comes from Ethnography collections; Batswana Cultural Property.Bayei classic piece collected in the 70s.marvel at the motifs