News

Botswana Open University (BOU) recently launched two books based on different aspects of the setswana culture, the books Nyalo Ya Setso mo Botswana and Melidzo ikalanga are authored by Ms Iren Ngwako and Mr Monty Moswela respectively.

When welcoming guests BOU Vice Chancellor Dr Daniel Tau highlighted that the university is a social enabler and a catalyst of a knowledge based society that is in the Botswana vision 2036. He said literature is important in providing academic excellence and that the University subsumes cultural reservation in writing. “Botswana Open University exist to support Batswana and the launch of these two books is a step in the right direction not only in support but in cultural reservation through writing”, said the Vice Chancellor.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture Development Mr Bruno Paledi also lamented that books are of great cultural significance, he said public libraries falls under his ministry and therefore they have a great interest in authors and publishers. He uploaded both authors saying this is a great move towards cultural documentation and reservation. The author of Milidzo Ikalanga Mr Monty Moswela informed attendees that his writing is inspired by the strong interest he has for Ikalanga language and culture, he said his wish is for the language to be in the public domain so that it does not die like other languages of the world that no longer exist. He said he was taought in Iklalanga at subA, subB and standard one; he has in previous years published two other books in kalanga.

The author of Nyalo ya setso mo Botswana Ms Iren Ngwako also aluded that she has been working with marriages for the past 36 years and through this experience and a concern about the divorce rates she was compelled to craft a cultural piece that encapsulates the processes and procedures of customary marriage in different parts of the country.

Ms Ngwako said marriage practices and expectations in Botswana are different from tribe to tribe and non of them have been documented. She said the book is of great value because it can help even foreigners to know what is expected when marrying in Botswana.

Copyright ©2023 Botswana Open University. All Rights Reserved

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.