DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES AMONG THE TSWANA, KALANGA, BASARWA, AND KGALAGADI
The Tswana are Botswana’s biggest ethnic group, and their culture places a premium on belonging to a larger group and protecting one’s own family from outside influences. The families of the bride and groom traditionally organize their children’s marriages, which is a significant part of Tswana culture. The bride’s family is traditionally responsible for providing a dowry, which may take the form of livestock, cash, or other items.
The Kalanga are another important Botswana ethnic group, and their culture is shaped by their time as a regional superpower. The elders and traditional values are highly revered in Kalanga society. The relatives of the bride and groom play a significant role in arranging the wedding. Marriage is an essential part of Kalanga culture.
The Basarwa, also called the San, are an ancient hunter-gatherer culture that have occupied this area for thousands of years. The people of this culture have a profound affinity for the earth and for one another. In Basarwa culture, it is normal for couples to elope after meeting and falling in love.
The Kgalagadi are a nomadic, semi-sedentary ethnic group native to the Kalahari. The natural world plays an important role in their culture, and people there have a great reverence for it. When two members of the Kgalagadi community decide to tie the knot, it is customary for the bride and groom’s families to coordinate the event and provide lavish parties in honor of the happy couple.
Community and family are highly valued in the cultures of all of these communities, and marriage has a significant role in all of them. They also have a common regard for traditional values and a strong affinity for the land.
There are some commonalities among these groups, but there are also important distinctions. The Tswana and Kalanga cultures, for instance, are more rigidly hierarchical and organized, whereas the Basarwa and Kgalagadi cultures are more flat-structured and egalitarian. And although the Tswana and Kalanga cultures are more concerned with agriculture and trade, the Basarwa and Kgalagadi cultures have a closer relationship to the natural environment.
Collectively, the similarities and distinctions amongst these peoples are indicative of Botswana’s cultural diversity.