MT Koitsiwe • Orcid.Org/0000-0001-8904-9959
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African indigenous astronomy of Batswana in Botswana and South Africa MT Koitsiwe • orcid.org/0000-0001-8904-9959 Thesis submitted in fulfilmentof the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Indigenous Knowledge Systems at the North-West University Promoter: Prof MA Masoga i LIBRARY Co-promoter: Prof JSS Shole L__ MAFFKENG CAMPUS : CALL r-:o.: I 2020 -01- o 6 Graduation ceremony: October 2019 /ACC.NO.: :::::--: Student number: 16126564 :::=s=:-: / (\; 0 rCb P..-V'i'lE T U�N�I--V E R-s-, T-Y�- DECLARATION I, Motheo Koitsiwe, declare that the thesis for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (]KS) at the North-West University, hereby submitted, has not been previously submitted for a degree at this or any other university; it is my own work in design and execution and that all material herein contained has been duly acknowledged. Motheo Koitsiwe Signed: Date: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am of the opinion that this study would have not reached its logical conclusion without the contribution and moral support of many people. My special thanks are due first and foremost to to baitseanape ba kitso ya setso who participated actively in this study from Mochudi (Botswana) and Moruleng (South Africa) and for making the dream come true. They provided me with the inspiration, motivation, infonnation, ideas and knowledge to strengthen the study. I would like to .thank them for their acceptance, collaboration and support of this project. I also thank Mme Grace Masuku, Ntikoe Motlotle, Mmapula Rrapekeneke, Stoutwe Ntou Matlhaga, Piet Koitsiwe, Ntoka Gouwe, Tladi Bojelo, Kwape Mogotsi, Lebotsang Molefe, Rre Tshime Metsileng, Rre Rasepae and many other IK experts who provided and shared their knowledge of bolepa-dinaledi without hesitation. Special thanks goes to Rre Nthuseng Sefara and Mme MJ Malatji, the IK experts from Mouleng who participated in this study but unfortunately they passed away before its completion. I would like to express my appreciation to the Bakgatla -Baa-Kgafela Tribal Authority / Council in Mochudi (Botswana) and Moruleng (South Africa) for their wonderful welcome, generous support and helped to identify of some of the IK experts who participated in the study. Most importantly I would like to Kgosikgolo Kgafela Kgafela II , Kgosi Segale Linchwe, Kgosi P Modise, Kgosana Molatlhegi Rramoitoti, Kgosana Magae Molefe, Kgosana Kgaodi Thebe from the Tribal Authority of Bakgatla -Baa- Kgafela in Mochudi including Kgosi Moeketsi Tosh Kgotlele. I also thank Kgosi Nyalala Pilane from Bakgatla -Baa- Kgafela Traditional Council in Moruleng. Special thanks also goes to Mme Virginia Pilane, manager of Mphebatho Museum in Moruleng, Rapoo Phuthadi, Segakweng Monowe, managers of Phuthadikobo museum including Mme Ditshaba, Aobakwe Moroke, Lesego Maano, Nene Koitsiwe, Ronald Lesejane, research assistants from Phuthadikobo museum in Mochudi for their relentless support. The IKS unit in Moruleng represented by L Chabeli, Roselyn Molotsi, Olebogeng Mmapitsa, Joyce Pule and Joyce Motlhatlhedi including Pilanesberg National Game Reserve represented by Mme Sarah Maoka were instrumental in ensuring the success of this study. I would also like to thank the NRF / DST IKS Centre based at the University of Kwazulu Natal for their financial support of this study. It is also fundamental to thank the IKS Centre and the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, at North - West University, especially the Deanery, Prof Eno II Ebenso and Prof David Modise for providing an enabling environment, time, opportunity to conduct, overcome all obstacles to complete this study succesfully. As indicated above, this work was not just a personal journey, there are people who made valuable inputs and contributions to this study, especially the language experts who translated the collected data from Setswana to English and those who transcribed the audios into written documents. They include Rre MK Molebaloa, Tsietsi Peter Mekgwe, Mme Kelebogile Tiro, FK Matimela, C Moyake and Mmaserame Mabitle. I would also would like to acknowledge Cossa Sarah, Seile Boinelo and Leshley Mashego for ensuring and cleaning the list of references. I also woud like to thank Ndlovu Tshepiso and Muriel Mokoto for their technical skills wich include final layout of the thesis. It is crucial also to thank Dr Dave Kawadza for running the Turnit software and produce the report including Prof O Ruzidzo who took his time to read the entire thesis, ensure that all spelling and grammatical errors are addressed. My intellectual debts and sincere gratitude goes to Prof MA Masoga and Prof JSS Shole for their boundless support and generosity as the promoters, inc_luding Prof DS Matjila, Dr O Ntsoane and Dr TPE Tondi as external examiners of this study. I would like to thank them for their critical, constructive comments, positive suggestions and remarks. Closer at home, I extend my thanks to my beloved parents, Mme Dipuo, Rre Tlhapi Koitsiwe, my young brother, Phetogo Koitsiwe, my soul mate, Tiragalo Zaitsu Sekgoro for their moral support, motivation, courage and confidence they instilled in me during moments of despondency and enthusiasm. The tolerance of my two children or the ghetto youths, Mosireletsi and Khanya Koitsiwe while I was going through this journey is greatly appreaciated. Selah. Ill DEDICATION This work is dedicated to all baitseanape ba kitso ya tlhago among the Bakgatla -Baa- Kgafela in Mochudi (Botswana) and Moruleng (South Africa) who participated and shared their knowledge, without any hesitation. This study is also dedicated to dikgosi, dikgosana, lekgotla, dikgoro tsa Bakgatla -Baa- Kgafela who gave permission for the study to continue due to the fact that no research can be conducted without their blessing in their own communities. IV ABBREVIATIONS AC- African Cosmology Al - Appreciativ e Inquiry AIR- African Indigenous Researchers A C African National Congress ASSA Astronomical Society of Southern Africa ATR African Traditional Religion AW African Worldviews BBKTA Bakgatla -Baa- Kgafela Tribal Authority BBT Big Bang Theory CMB Cosmic Microwave Background CMC Contemporary Maasai Cosmology CRL Commission for the Promotion of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities CWA Contemporary Western Astrology DST Department of Science and Technology EWS Early Warning Signals / Systems FAO Food and Agricultural Organisation IAU - International Astronomy Union IK - Indigenous Knowledge lKS - Indigenous Knowledge Systems Langtag - Language Plan Task Group NASA- National Aeronautics and Space Administration NDM - Natural Disaster Management NLPF - ational Language Policy Framework PA SALB - Pan South African Language COE - Education Centre for Development and Enterprise SD - Sustainable Development THP Traditional Health Practitioners UNISDR- United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction V GLOSSARY OF SETSWANA TERMS Baitseanape - experts Baitseanape ba htso ya bolepa-dinaledi - indigenous astronomy experts Baitseanape ba kitso ya tlhago - indigenous knowledge experts Balemirui - agricultural society Bogwera- initiation for boys Bojale- initiation for girls Bolepa-dinaledi - indigenous astronomy Difaqane - crushing, scattering, forced dispersal, forced migration Dikgoro - clans Dinaledi - stars Dinawa - beans Go Jet/ha pula - ritual of rainmaking Go tlhapisa lefatshe - land ceremony Kakanyo - philoshophy Kgabo - monkey Kgogamasigo - night dragger Kgosi- king Kgosikgolo - paramount leader Kgosing, More ma, Tshukudu - - clans of Bakgatla -Baga- Kgafela Mabodisa, Manamakgote - clans of Bakgatla -Baga- Kgafela Kitso - knowledge Kopadilalelo -venus Lebelebele - millet Letlhodi - small green beans Lotlatlana - dusk, or early evening twilight Maabanyane - the evening after sunset, towards night Mabele - sorghum, Magapu - melons Mahube - reddish sky, i.e. early dawn Masimo - field Mma-Pula - mother of the rain Mmopo - maize, VI Moro/ca - rainmaker Maso - sunrise Mpho ya badimo - gift of god Mpye - sweet reed Naka - canopus Phirimane - sunset Pulanyana - little rain Selemela - pleaides Sereto - totem Thapelo ya pula - rain prayer Vi l ABSTRACT Although astronomy is the oldest of all the sciences, African indigenous astronomy, especially of the Batswana has to date not received the attention it deserves from scholars and researchers. Nonetheless, there is scattered, disconnected documentation of aspects of this knowledge studied by scholars in a variety of disciplines. This study followed a case study approach to investigate African indigenous astronomy of Batswana in Botswana and South Africa. The research report in this thesis has focused on the African indigenous astronomy of Bakgatla -Baa- Kgafela in Mochudi (Botswana) and Moruleng (South Africa). The Bakgatla -Baa- Kgafela were chosen for this study due to fact that they share the same history, culture, tradition, totem and philosophy. However, due to historical and political developments they were separated by artificial borders, hence some are found in Botswana while others are in South Africa. The study followed a qualitative approach and indigenous knowledge paradigm. The Afrocentric, phenomenography and appreciative enquiry theories were used as appropriate and relevant frameworks which underpinned this study. Research data was gathered from "baitseanape ba kitso ya tlhago ' or the IK experts by means of in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (using Lekgotla or indigenous talking circle strategy), narratives and document analysis. The data collected from the participants