Bogwera must be properly conducted - Kgosi Seboko

Bamalete Kgosikgolo, Kgosi Mosadi Seboko says she has always held the position that Bogwera must be properly conducted in terms of Bamalete custom, tradition and culture and arranged by the Kgosi in terms of the Bogosi Act.

On 15th August 2023, Justice Tshepo Motswagole of Lobatse High Court, handed down a judgement striking out an urgent application instituted by Maphalaola A Pitse Cultural Association and 17 other persons, who identified themselves as magwera in terms of Bamalete custom, tradition and culture.

The central dispute was the decision of Kgosi Seboko, and that of the Tribal Administration, that there shall be no Bogwera this year.

On 9th August 2023, an urgent application was launched against Kgosi Seboko and her deputies where the Association sought an order recognising its alleged entitlement to conduct Bogwera in terms of Bamalete custom, tradition and culture. Furthermore, the purported magwera sought an order to participate in Bogwera similarly in terms of Bamalete custom, tradition and culture.

In response to the judgement of the court, Kgosi Seboko emphasised that bogwera is an integral traditional ceremony for the initiation of young men and recognition as men within the Bamalete tribe. She said she has a statutory duty to arrange such ceremonies in terms of section 17 (d) of the Bogosi Act and, indeed, customary law.

Such ceremonies, she said, are integral to the nurturing of young members of the tribe and inculcation of custom, culture and tradition among these young members who are the future of the Bamelete tribe and Botswana as a nation.

“The Applicants, whom we assume to be Balete, are invited to continue consulting with me and the Tribal Administration in order to determine when bogwera may be held, upon the satisfaction of all the conditions of the traditional ceremony being met.

“The purported magwera are our children, and we will always act in their best interest and the wider interests of the Bamalete tribe. We respect their legal right to take us to court, and so we will never victimise them for having taken us to court, nor shall we discriminate or stigmatise them,” she said.

She explained that on 8 May 2023, she announced that the traditional ceremony of Bogwera would not be held in the year 2023 primarily due to logistical reasons. This decision, according to Kgosi was made upon consultation with various elders of the Bamalete tribe and various stakeholders.

“However, a minority of the members of the tribe were not in favour of this decision and, therefore, between May and July of 2023, there were numerous discussions regarding the holding of bogwera. Throughout these consultations my decision with the Tribal Administration had not changed.

“On 5 August 2023, we were informed of individuals attempting to prepare and conduct Bogwera, and we reported the matter to the Botswana Police in fear of the unsanctioned operations of the Applicants,” she revealed.

Kgosi Seboko stated that there is a need to ensure that any ceremony is conducted safely and in line with the customs, tradition, culture and customary law of the Bamalete tribe