That BNF "Kopano" symbol!

In my view, if all that the Umbrella party will achieve will be to get rid of the Botswana National Front (BNF) “Kopano” symbol, it (Umbrella) will have achieved its purpose. The BNF Kopano symbol is a very slight modification of the “Barwa” hieroglyph. Only the axe was removed from the hieroglyph to construct the symbol.  The hieroglyph is depicted in the lowest register on the reverse side of the Narmer Palette, just above the “stumbling” figure of a man – private parts exposed!

   

As a Kalanga, it irks me to see a supposedly National Party bearing a tribalist symbol. Let’s get rid of it.

Why should non-Ikalanga speakers have a say?

Two articles in the two most recent editions of the Weekend Post, the first by Divetero Max Muniape, entitled “Of Botswana identity and Tribalism”and the latest by Kutlwano Cozby, entitled “Tribal Majority Rule” have set my mind on a new line of analysis altogether.

Why is it, I now ask myself, that the opinion of a Tswana speaking person has to be sought whenever the question arises as to whether Ikalanga language should be taught in schools and be broadcast on radio? After all, no Ikalanga language speakers were ever consulted when the decision was made to teach Tswana language, much less to make it a so-called National language! Even more shocking is the requirement that should the Ikalanga language community decide to start an IKalanga language Radio Station, Government should first give approval. I mean our Kalanga taxes are currently being used for the exclusive promotion of Setswana, a language whose speakers first, stole our alphabet and then banned our language.  

Again my mind wonders to the Narmer Palette, bottom register on the reverse side, and I see the Nrwa running for dear life as the Kalanga soldier, Mengwe overthrows his own King. I ask myself if that is where it all went wrong. Did General Mengwe subsequently sacrifice his own Ikalanga culture in order to appease the traditional Nrwa enemy whom he had now forcibly co-opted into the Federation of Mabunde? Whether or not he did, the situation in which Ikalanga language finds itself in “Botswana” today is unacceptable and needs to be confronted head-on!