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Author: TRK

Ngwanatsele (November in Setswana)

Ngwanatsele (November in Setswana)

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[ENG] The Setswana name for November is Ngwanatsele. Although it is the eleventh month of the Gregorian Calendar (November/Ngwanatsele) is in fact the third month of the traditional Tswana lunar calendar, whose year starts with the onset on the agricultural season in August/September (Lwetse). However, this is not as clear-cut as my introduction above makes it seem. Traditional Southern African calendars were based on the moon cycle, as well as annual seasonal rotations. This tended to create complications as a 12-month lunar cycle…

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150 Animal Names in Setswana (part 1)

150 Animal Names in Setswana (part 1)

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The focus of today’s post is Setswana names of animals, birds, fish, and arthropods, listed together with their English equivalents. Pluralisation in Setswana is usually quite straightforward, as it follows a very principle (as discussed in Ditlhopha tsa Maina [Noun Classes]). However, the use of animal names in folk tales and other familial settings has resulted in a lot of personification associated with some animals, and this has caused some of these animal names to take a somewhat unorthodox pluralisation….

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Phalane (October in Setswana)

Phalane (October in Setswana)

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[ENG] The Setswana name for October is Phalane. The tenth month of the Gregorian calendar is in fact the second month of the traditional Tswana lunar calendar, whose year starts with the onset on the agricultural season in August/September (Lwetse). However, this is not as clear-cut as my introduction above makes it seem. Traditional Southern African calendars were based on the moon cycle, as well as annual seasonal rotations. This tended to create complications as a 12-month lunar cycle is bound to fall…

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Botswana’s National Symbols

Botswana’s National Symbols

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As September is Botswana month, we continue to look at the identifying markers of the country: Botswana’s national symbols. 1. Name The first and most obvious identifier is the name. Although generally referred to simply as Botswana, the official name of this country is Republic of Botswana. This name was adopted at independence from the British, in 1966. Prior to that, the area was known as Bechuanaland Protectorate, and it neighboured British Bechuanaland, which was eventually incorporated into South Africa’s…

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Botswana’s National Plants

Botswana’s National Plants

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Botswana’s national tree is the marula (morula) while her national flower is the devil’s claw (sengaparile). National Tree: Marula [Morula] Known as the Sclerocarya birrea in scientific circles, the marula tree gets its name directly from the Setswana “morula” (whose ‘o’ sound has proven very difficult to native English speakers, who tend to give it a more ‘a’ sounding pronunciation – like is the case with how Botswana sounds more like Batswana from an Angloglot’s tongue). The tree is a…

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Botswana’s National Animals

Botswana’s National Animals

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Botswana’s national animal is the zebra (pitse e tilodi), while her national bird is the kori bustard (kgori). National Animal: Zebra [Pitse (e Tilodi)] The Equus quagga, as taxonomists call it, has an interesting place in the modern history of Batswana. Although it had its original Setswana name “stolen” by the horse (Equus caballus) after their first arrival with immigrant humans several hundred years ago, it has been able to make a comeback to become Botswana’s National Animal. And not only is it our…

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September is Botswana Month

September is Botswana Month

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Botswana got her independence from the United Kingdom on the last day of September, 57 years ago. A less known fact is that September 30, 1966 was also the 79th anniversary of Bechuanaland being divided into two countries just six months after becoming a British protectorate. Faced with the imminent threat of the South African Boer republics, German colonisation of South West Africa, and/or incorporation into Cecil John Rhodes’ ruthless takeover scheme (whichever would come first), Queen Victoria granted protectorate status to Batswana’s lands…

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Lwetse (September in Setswana)

Lwetse (September in Setswana)

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[ENG] The Setswana name for September is Lwetse. The ninth month of the Gregorian Calendar (September/Lwetse) is in fact the first month of the traditional Tswana lunar calendar, whose year starts with the onset on the agricultural season in August/September (Lwetse). “Ngwaga o mosha!” [“Happy New Year!”] However, this is not as clear-cut as my introduction above makes it seem. Traditional Southern African calendars were based on the moon cycle, as well as annual seasonal rotations. This tended to create complications as a…

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Pula le Thebe (Setswana)

Pula le Thebe (Setswana)

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Ledi la Botswana la Pula (BWP) ke la botlhano ka boleng mo kontinenteng ya Afrika, mme le fetwa fela ke la Cedi la Ghana mo mafatsheng a Borwa ja sekaka sa Sahara. Ledi le, le sale le nna le boleng jo bo kwa godingwana, go tsweng le tlhangwa ka 1976. Tsatsi leno, Phatwe a le 23, re itebaganya le ditso tsa lone. Ledi la Botswana le tsene mo tirisong mo letsatsing lone le, dingwaga tse 47 tse di fetileng: Mosupologo, 23 tsa…

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Pula and Thebe (English)

Pula and Thebe (English)

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The Botswanan Pula (BWP) is the fifth strongest currency in Africa, and second only to the Ghanaian Cedi in the countries south of the Sahara. It has enjoyed a steady placement at the top echelons since its inception in 1976. Today, on the 23rd of August, we look at its origins. The Botswana currency first came into circulation 47 years ago, today; on Monday 23 August 1976 – the generally underappreciated or unknown “Pula Day”. Presenting a brief insight into this…

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