Africa-Press – Botswana. The people of Hukuntsi have revived the rhythm of the rains and the spirit of gratitude with the first Dikgafela celebration, a sacred tradition honouring the harvest, rain, and the ancestors, after decades of inactivity.
Clad in richly patterned cultural attire, elderly women sang traditional rain songs, balancing pots of harvested grain on their heads.
Their joyful footsteps moved in time with the music as they danced through the village on Friday, leading the sacred procession to the kgotla, with men ensuring that the group is received with honour by the chief.
The show formed part of the Baeharu Cultural Show, held on Saturday.
In his address, Kgosi Merapelo Tshweneyagae of Hukuntsi, praised the community for their participation in reviving the Dikgafela custom.
He recalled last year’s letsema, where villagers were encouraged to plough, and expressed gratitude that the season had brought abundant rainfall.
“Because of the rains, farmers harvested more than in recent past years. It is important to celebrate Dikgafela to appease the heavens for continued blessings of rain,” said Kgosi Tshweneyagae.
He urged farmers to maintain their hard work to achieve food self-sufficiency, noting that in the past, communities produced their own food, something that had become increasingly difficult today.
He shared that with Dikgafela custom, the food brought to the kgotla during the festival would be distributed to the needy and the elderly, in line with the spirit of sharing and unity.
While this year marked the return of Dikgafela after many years, Kgosi Tshweneyagae expressed hope that the celebration would continue to grow in significance and attendance in the years to come.Hukuntsi Assistant Agricultural Scientific officer, Onthuse Tlhankane, commended the community for hosting a fitting Dikgafela celebration, noting that this year had seen a noticeable improvement in crop yields.
Tlhankane revealed that last year 116 farmers registered for the Temo Letlotlo programme, though only 89 were able to plough.
She explained that despite the good rains, farmers faced challenges such as the spread of weeds and pests, as well as nutrient loss caused by the porous sandy soils becoming waterlogged.
Tlhankane encouraged farmers not to lose hope, reminding them that self-sufficiency remained achievable through perseverance and proper planning.
Following the harvest, she said many farmers had already harvested, adding that registration for the quantity produced in the district was still ongoing.
“Crops registered so far include maize, beans, lablab, groundnuts, peanuts, watermelons, and melons,” she said. Looking ahead to the next planting season, Tlhankane urged farmers to spread manure on their fields to improve soil fertility and to take full advantage of existing government support programmes, such as the field fencing scheme.
She cautioned that many farms remained unfenced, leaving them vulnerable.
She also encouraged farmers to test their soils to determine nutrient content and fertility needs, and to adopt strategies such as planting different crops on separate portions of land to safeguard against total crop failure.
Tlhankane further advised farmers to form associations as a way of sharing knowledge, resources, and experience for collective growth.
“By working together, farmers can strengthen each other and ensure sustainable production for the entire community,” she said.
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