Batswana should use the country’s cultural resources to promote national identity and to diversify the economy, the Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture has said.

Officiating at the national culture day in Serowe over the weekend, Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Ms Gladys Kokorwe, challenged all Batswana to make the nation’s cultural heritage part of their daily lives. ‘We are the product of our culture. We are identifiable as a people because we have a common historical and cultural background,’ she said.

The theme of the National Culture Day was: Culture is my Responsibility.

Ms Kokorwe said Batswana should be determined to preserve and promote the best elements of their cultural heritage and should be willing to discard the aspects of culture that had become obsolete or were an impediment to progress. She
said that government and stakeholders such as the Botswana Music Union was facilitating the establishment of a copyright society to ensure that the national champions benefited from their talents.

Kgosi Tholego Seretse, the Bangwato deputy tribal authority, said culture was important in the day to day chores of every individual. He encouraged Batswana to respect their culture and showcase it in celebrations such as the culture day.

http://www.gov.bw/cgi-bin/news.cgi?d=20080603&i=Serowe_hosts_culture_day