VALUE OF MADUME (GREETINGS) In Setswana, greetings have always been entrenched in culture and value systems such that one’s failure to greet another is deemed immoral. The significance of greetings in local communities has been instrumental as it makes people have a sense of belonging and affinity which solidify and bring together members of a community. Relations between and within communities are made strong by respect for the elders and mostly the younger ones being always respectful to those older than them. Greetings are accorded to every elderly person whom you meet and it does not matter whether you know them or not. Every elder is seen as a parent regardless of the blood line which means the younger ones are obliged to extend greetings without fail. Usually when a younger person greets an elder, the latter will have a chance to ask the former who their parents are, where they stay and also what they do in life including any other questions which may arise during the conversation. The reason why Botswana has always stood out among many nations when it comes to welcoming visitors and being labelled a loving nation is because they extend greetings as often as possible to every person they meet hence that makes people feel welcome and at home. Globalisation and modernity seem to have corrupted the minds of people mostly the young generation and have to a larger extent degraded Setswana values and norms. The infiltration of foreign cultures has also left a serious dent on how people conduct themselves while exposure of foreign cultures by the media has worsened the situation. Increasing social ills is something government has been fighting tooth and nail so as to bring back the good culture that has made the country what it is today. Kgosi Bayei Maedze of Seronga village says greetings in his village is an acceptable norm which shows that you care and love someone. He says people pass others without greeting them makes them a disrespectful lot that does not show love. Kgosi Maedze further says greetings come from a long way in their tradition and Batswana at large which shows respect for one another. He says in his village greetings are taken so seriously that if one does not greet someone with a hand-shake people can become aggrieved. He adds that greetings are a mores that culture passes even to the young generation. He says he is aware that people in most rural villages continue to hold on to their culture of greetings but it has decreased in some areas mostly towns and cities. In comparison to modernised societies where people greet those whom they know, in rural communities greetings make people to know each other well. Therefore, relations between people living in one area are cordial unlike in urban areas where people can be neighbours but do not know each other. Only time will tell to see whether this beloved gesture will continue to prevail among the coming generations notwithstanding the fast paced lives which push people further apart. BOPA Your thoughts?
Posted on: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 12:59:46 +0000
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