Learning & Living Communities Host Two-Day Culture Day Celebration themed “Echoes of Heritage”
Heritage must not be seen as a relic of the past but as a living guide for the future, said Kgosi Dr Peter M. Sebina, at the University of Botswana (UB) Living and Learning Communities (LLC) Culture Day celebration. Addressing students and staff, Dr Sebina underscored that cultural practices such as Magadi and Patlo were more than ceremonial rituals. He said they were lessons in respect, dialogue and unity that continued to shape responsible citizenship.
He noted that the traditions were not obsolete but they were blueprints for the future meant to teach people accountability, mutual care and the importance of community in a world that often celebrated individualism.
Echoing Dr Sebina’s sentiments, Director of Student Welfare, Dr Barbra Pansiri, applauded the LLC for using culture as a tool for education and social cohesion. Dr Pansiri said Culture Day was more than a celebration - it was a reflection of how tradition and academia could reinforce one another. She observed that the LLC platform allowed students to appreciate diversity, learn from one another and uphold values of unity and sustainable development.
Delivering the keynote address on the second day, Hon Leonard Rambwasvika of Village Ward, described the initiative as a bridge between traditional wisdom and modern learning. He noted that cultural values such as inclusivity, justice and mutual respect were timeless virtues that could help shape ethical and sustainable leadership in Botswana.
The two-day celebration, held from September 19 to 20 under the theme “Driven by Knowledge, United by Purpose: Reformation through Sustainable Pathways,” featured Magadi, Patlo and Kgoroso demonstrations, with Ms Tsaone Polao and Ms Sharden Ditsiane guiding participants through their cultural significance.
The event concluded with a vibrant showcase of art, crafts, cuisine and traditional attire at the cultural exhibitions. The displays brought together students, staff and guests in a shared experience of learning and pride, reaffirming that the preservation of heritage was not only about honouring the past but also shaping the kind of future people wished to build.