Staff Profiles

2010 Doctor of Philosophy University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana

2000 Master of Museum Studies, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia

1999 Graduate Diploma, Museum Studies, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia

1993 Bachelor of Arts, Humanities. University of Botswana, Gaborone

Dr. Setlhabi joined the University of Botswana in 2011 as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and is currently a Senior Lecturer in Archaeology. Her career started in 1993 as Collections Manager at the Botswana National Museum until 2004 when she started her work in I.C.T. companies. She is a professional member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), International Council of African Museums (AFRICOM) and a current Board member, Botswana Association of Archaeology Professionals, Association of Critical Heritage Studies, Society of Africanist Archaeologists (SAFA) and Anthropology Southern Africa (ASnA). She was previously the Chair of the Botswana National Committee of ICOM (2013-16) and Board member of the International Committee for Documentation (CIDOC) (2001-2004). Dr. Setlhabi is the University of Botswana representative on the UNESCO Culture Program Committee. She is also a cultural activist involved in community work where she is a member of the Kgatleng Intangible Cultural Heritage District Committee which facilitated the listing of two elements on the UNESCO 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage list in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. In addition to that, Dr. Setlhabi is a member of the Phuthadikobo Museum Board of Trustees. 

Introduction to Archaeology

Archaeological Theory

Heritage Management

Museology

As an academic with an interdisciplinary research interest in the study of material culture and its role in defining and shaping past and present societies, my orientation is therefore inclined to disciplines that are object/culture/heritage oriented such as archaeology, museology, heritage studies and ethnography. 

My research interests/expertise are heritage management, museology, digital heritage, documentation, ethnoarchaeology, cultural heritage/intangible cultural heritage. I use my expertise in material culture documentation and preservation to interrogate the philosophy and interpretation of human cultures through time as information is central to the study of human cultures and activities. This includes the application of I.C.T. tools in the preservation and presentation of material culture. 

Heritage Management

Museology

Ethnoarchaeology

Museum Documentation

Information management

Collections management

Selected Publications

Setlhabi, K.G. 2019 ‘Re-living secrecy and ethics in bojale ten years on’, Anthropology Southern Africa, 42(2): 173-184

Setlhabi, K. G. 2018 ‘Taller than the rest: The Three Dikgosi Monument, Masculinity Reloaded’ In Wera Grahn and Ross Wilson (eds) Gender and Heritage: Performance, Place and Politics Key Issues in Cultural Heritage. Routledge. pp. 113-128

Setlhabi, K. G. 2016 ‘Evoking Memory: A Curatorial Perspective on Botswana’s Presidential Heritage’, Botswana Notes & Records Special Issue on Botswana’s 50th Anniversary of Independence. vol. 48, 1, pp. 368-382

Setlhabi, K. G. 2014 ‘I also Took an Allegiance to Secrecy: Complexities of Conducting Ethnographic Research at Home’, Africa: Journal of the International African Institute. 84(2): 314-334

Setlhabi, K.G. 2012 ‘The Curation of Transition, from Manual to Electronic Documentation Systems Collections: A Journal for Museum and Archives Professionals. 8(1): 39-55.