University of Botswana San Research Centre Holds National Forum on San Language, Culture and Knowlwdge in Botswana
University of Botswana (UB) San Research Centre in partnership with Palms for Life Fund Botswana hosted a two-day National Forum on the preservation of San languages, culture, and knowledge systems in Botswana. The purpose of the forum was to bring together key stakeholders to discuss issues that pose threats and challenges to the San communities.
Palms for Life Fund Botswana National Coordinator, Ms Dorothy Okatch, said the national forum was a platform for educating citizens on matters of vital importance that were sometimes not given the attention they deserved.
She indicated that it was imperative to invest in the preservation of language, culture, and knowledge systems of the San. Further, she said such was possible through education that was availed through mediums they could comprehend.
“We believe in building capacity of our local implementing partners such as the San Research Centre,” said Okatch.
For his part, the acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Enterprise, Professor Richard Tabulawa, said hosting the national forum was in line with UB’s strategic pillars of societal engagement, and increasing university’s research output. Professor Tabulawa added that “Botswana should be better placed to promote and safeguard the existence of the native languages and cultural communities.” The University of Botswana has the expertise that will assist in the documentation of San languages and cultures.
Consequently, the forum will culminate in a national action plan that will lead to a framework to guide the development and preservation of San languages, cultures and knowledge systems. The national forum held a panel discussion that discussed key issues such as San languages and prospects of mother tongue education in Botswana, emerging issues on orthography and language use, language use on health and region of the San and real-life experiences of San children growing up in commercial farms, among other issues.
The forum was held in line with the resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly designating the year 2022- 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL).