Introduction
The Xere Cultural Festival is a two-day event slated for September 15-16, 2023, in Xere Village, Botswana. The festival is dedicated to celebrating the culture and heritage of the Basarwa, the indigenous inhabitants of the Kalahari Desert.
The festivities will feature a variety of traditional Basarwa activities, including music, dance, storytelling, as well as hunting and gathering demonstrations. There will also be food stalls, exhibitions by arts and crafts vendors, and traditional medicine practitioners.
The festival is organised by the Xere Cultural Village Trust, a Non-Profit Organisation dedicated to preserving and promoting the Basarwa culture. The trust hopes the festival will help raise awareness of the Basarwa people and their unique culture. The Xere Cultural Festival is a great opportunity for attendees to learn about the history and traditions of the Basarwa people and experience their unique culture firsthand.
Xere Cultural Festival highlights…
Music and dance performances
The Basarwa are known for their beautiful music and dance, and the festival will feature performances by some of the best Basarwa artists.
Urban entertainment( mini session during featuring popular artist including Vee Mampeezy, Sereetsi and the Natives.
Storytelling and oral his sessions
Storytelling sessions where elders share stories about Basarwa’s rich history and culture.
Hunting and gathering demonstrations
The Basarwa are traditionally skilled hunter gatherers, and will demonstrate how they used to forage for food and water in the desert.
Food stalls
Revellers will be able to sample traditional Sesarwa cuisine, such as tsamma melons, mongongo nuts, and bushman bread which will be sold at food stalls.
Arts and crafts vendors
Arts and crafts vendors will be selling traditional Basarwa artefacts, such as jewellery, baskets, and drums.
Traditional medicine practitioners
Traditional medicine practitioners will on hand to offer consultations and advice on how to use traditional remedies.
About the Basarwa
The Basarwa were traditionally nomadic, moving from one place to the next in search of food and water. They lived in small groups, and their culture was based on their close relationship with the land. They were skilled hunter gatherers and were also adept at making use of the plants and animals of the desert.
The Basarwa came into contact with the Bantu-speaking people of the region in the 17th century. The Bantu people brought with them new technologies such as agriculture and livestock and began to settle in the Kalahari. This led to conflict with the Basarwa, who were forced to move to less desirable areas.
In the 20th century, the Botswana government began to forcibly relocate the Basarwa to government-run settlements. This was done in the name of development, but it had a devastating impact on the Basarwa as they had to give up their traditional way of life, forcing them into abject poverty and discrimination.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement to protect the rights of the Basarwa. The Botswana government has made some reforms, but the Basarwa continue to face challenges. They are still marginalised and discriminated against, and their culture is under threat.
The Xere Village is a community of Basarwa people located in the Kalahari Desert. The village was established in 1997 by the Xere Cultural Village Trust, a Non-Profit Organisation that seeks to preserve and promote their culture.
Xere, a place where Basarwa can freely lead their traditional way of life and preserve their culture for future generations, is home to about 200 people who live in traditional Basarwa dwellings and lead the traditional Basarwa way of life. They are also involved in ecotourism and offer visitors to the area the opportunity to learn about their culture and way of life.
Challenges faced by the Basarwa people in Xere Village…
Poverty
The Basarwa are one of the poorest communities in Botswana. They have limited access to education and healthcare and often struggle to make ends meet.
Discrimination
Often treated as second-class citizens, the Basarwa face discrimination from the majority Bantu population. They are also denied access to basic services.
Loss of culture
With the younger generation is increasingly abandoning their traditional way of life and adopting the ways of the Bantu people, the Basarwa culture is under threat.
The Xere Cultural Festival is a great opportunity to learn about the rich culture and heritage of the Basarwa people. It is also a fun and educational event for the whole family.
By YourBotswana writer: Ken Ntsima
Kenalemodisa Kenford Ntsima is a keen broadcast journalist with a degree in Media and Design Studies from Limkokwing University. He has previously worked for South African tv station, LoveWorldSat as a Broadcast Designer and Publishing Specialist.
Does this first time meeting of the Basarwa and the Bantu mean that the latter arrived in Southern Africa in the 17th century? I doubt if this is correct!