By teniolab
Hello!
I am just arriving back to campus after spending the weekend in Bahurutshe Cultural Village. The village is located in Mmankgodi which is about 22 miles from Gaborone. It is deemed a “cultural village” in that it is a village that tourists can go to participate in and experience the culture of the Bahurutse tribe. From the food to the dancing, two moments stood out to me the most.
1. Foreigner Acceptance Ceremony
Traditionally, when a foreigner arrives at a village, they must be accepted to stay by the chief and by the ancestors. The "ancestors" adorn animal skin on their bodies, paint on their faces and shells around their legs. They perform traditional dances that involve quick footwork. It was always a shocker to see the dancers throw in a backflip here and a back-tuck there. Accompanied by their impressive dance skills were their wonderful harmonies.
Chief Performing Ritual
The chief was then introduced. He needed the help of the "ancestors" to decide whether or not we were welcome to stay at the village. The whole ceremony was compared to the present-day act of trying to get a visa for entrance into another country. The ritual involves some chanting, rocks, water, and a feather stick. Many chants later, the chief interrupted the "ancestors" to say a few words. The bones were then thrown on the ground and once again. On the second throw, the bones remained clumped together. This signified the ancestors' decision to allow us into the village community. We celebrated with both song and dance.
The reliance on the ancestors in Bahurutshe culture showcases how much they value the elderly and those individuals who have passed on. They respect the wisdom that they have to influence present-day decisions.
2. Mokolodi Nature Reserve
A couple of miles past the cultural village was the Mokolodi Nature Reserve. It was the most anticipated event of the weekend. At the reserve, we embarked on a two-hour long game drive. Most if not all of the wild animals were rescued from the neighboring countries. First, we encountered a cheetah in her widespread enclosure. Next, came the zebras, impala, warthogs, and the giraffe. It was so surreal to be able to see animals I had only seen on TV, so up close and personal. The animals were very well-behaved. Every encounter we made, an animal would stop and stare at us (pose for the camera) and then resume its duties.
