The theatrical offing, which saw one of Botswana's comically charged theatre groups Tsoga Africa Theatre Works taking the role of transiting proceedings instead of having the usual masters of ceremony better known as 'emcees' was a top notch work of art and mind power. Creativity and talent coupled with the splendid performance lining and linkage simply wowed.

Through song, dance and poetry, the richness of Tswana culture overflowed and for certain those who dismissed it as useless and having no symbolism in contemporary Botswana society had better think again. Show not tell, that is what yours truly ought to do, but running short of words to paint the cultural picture that engulfed Maitisong Hall last Friday. "Go bolelewa ga go tswane go bona ka matlho," which loosely translates into "seeing for oneself is far much better than being told".

Beholding the beautifully woven story telling employed by the youthful minds of Maru-a-Pula School to communicate dynamic issues threatening to completely rob Batswana of their sense of identity, tears could be shed as Thabo discard his identity for a Western personality.

Told amid the usual traditional dance and folk song, a Motswana graduate Thabo aka T-bone, an alumni of Maru-a-Pula School, who had flown overseas to broaden his academic career, returns home after drinking in the well of education for some years in the United States of America (US). In fact, before going abroad, he does not appreciate nor tolerate his culture as a Motswana; his friend Merapelo aka Mrapper is also ignorant about Tswana culture, which they regard as antiquated. The duo are, like many youngsters today, absorbed and mesmerised by the Western culture such that they end up forgetting their roots.

Thabo does not speak Setswana language, nor listen to its music. Basically, he knows little or nothing at all about his culture.
In a Setswana homecoming meant to make Thabo appreciate who he is, Mrapper - who has found light that yes other cultures can be assimilated but one has to preserve his own cultural values and practices - is the voice of change; but coconut Thabo plays hard to convince. Thabo's parents, sister and Mrapper try to make him live the Motswana in him but to no avail.

But in a tale moving to and from, through flashbacks, Mrapper finally gets his friend T-bone to realise the importance of his culture and heritage. Not an easy initiation though, as all eyes turned back when one man whom most thought to be part of the audience thundered strong words to remind T-bone that without culture a people is lost while he (T-bone) was dismissing Setswana as of no importance.

Setswana food, dress and others like phafana made the heart of the costume. While household voices belted up at a night that opened the Setswana Week, Culture Spears, Shanti Lo, Lister Bolseng, Nono, Smar, Mogwana and Helen made the night. The Champagne master, Zeus, also delivered loaded Setswana proverbs, a true testimony of fusion of cultures.

The African drum also kept the cultural beat throbbing, as the educational and proverbial language together with socialisation pieces in areas like motherhood, wedlock, family values to starve off diseases such as HIV/AIDS were also threaded in the tale of a young Motswana who trades education with his identity.

The event provides cultural interaction while at the same time encouraging the youth to be proud of their culture. The week-long celebrations aim to expose expatriates in Botswana to the diversity and richness of Setswana culture in all aspects by going beyond the usual traditional dance show.

"We, as students, have decided to take up the mantle of organising this event because we are the main people who are meant to learn much from it. In addition to its initial aim of raising student awareness, the organising committee now aims at enriching the cultural life of Gaborone, which is the country's window to the outside world," committee representatives explained.