Culturally selfless: An ethnographic study of men’s cultural duty towards the dead among Bakgatla Ba Kgafela at Mabalane village; Botswana.




Oabona Moses Sello
Our Lady of Carmel Mission School
contact: 73352030
Abstract
This ethnographic study explored men’s cultural duty towards the dead among Bakgatla Ba Kgafela (BBK) in Mabalane village; Botswana. Previous studies on death among BBK have paradoxically been premised in Mochudi; Botswana whilst employing a generalized approach to an otherwise broad phenomenon. However, this ethnographic study sought to be unique and offer cultural insights about BBK from outside Mochudi with emphasis on men’s cultural duty. Its guiding questions were; to what extent have men maintained their selfless cultural duty towards the dead and what are the noticeable changes that exist with regards to this duty. The study was ethnographic and used a functionalist perspective to unpack this cultural duty. Participants’ observations, key informant interviews, personal communications and archived documents analysis were used to collect data. Data and field work experiences were condensed into descriptive themes relative to men’s cultural duty. Key findings indicated; consistency in adherence to men’s cultural role, adherence to ethical codes, order in serving food as well as impromptu meetings. Despite proudly maintaining this cultural duty, some inevitable cultural changes exist such as financial contribution towards digging tools and cooking times. The study concludes that, men at Mabalane village have generally maintained their cultural duty towards the dead albeit with some inevitable cultural adjustments. In fact, their cultural duty is still being envied by villagers and neighbouring BBK villages along the Madikwe river in the Kgatleng district.
Keywords: Death, Grave digging, Burial, Functionalism, Ethnography, Cultural duty, Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela (BBK).

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