Cultural Festivals of Botswana Ethnic Communities: Business Values and Challenges

Introduction

Botswana is historically known for the heritage sites such as the Tsodilo Hills that enshrines ancient rock paintings and the Okavango Delta which has recently been declared a World Heritage Site (Denbow & Thebe, 2006; Botswana Tourism, 2015, 2016). These have been the backbone of economic tourism. However, the Botswana society, albeit its small population has an impressive diversity of indigenous communities with various cultural practices which are quickly becoming tourist attractions. These communities enshrine socio-historical and cultural knowledge systems that can be as ramified and present an interesting characterization of their livelihood and existence. The indigenous knowledge system of Botswana communities can be derived and distilled from the rich diversity of its ethnic communities that still maintain a measure of vibrancy in their exercise of their culture. The country can develop its specific indigenous cultures within the general cultural policy to contribute activities that help communities to fight poverty by creating employment and wealth. Indigenous cultural celebrations, historical and archaeological sites, practices, and heritage sites have aroused interest for touristic and commercial exploitation

Because most of Botswana’s culture and associated practices are still rustic and still belonging to the informal sector domain, the development of their commercialization will require strategies that are informed by business best practice. The fact that information about them still remains in the oral domain presents challenges for their accessibility and appreciation by enterprising communities or adventuring tourists. Business value mean that indigenous knowledge as presented in ceremonies, cultural celebrations, intangible and tangible knowledge systems will be undertaken with the sense of profitability and improved accessibility to enhance enjoyment of leisure. These may also entail modernization of facilities, venues, presentations, and scheduling events to target seasons of maximal business.

Turning Botswana traditional practices into business ventures will therefore mean devising business strategies that are accommodative of the traditional values that define the practices and are appropriate for turning them into business activities. For business to be business, these knowledge systems will have to be presentenced in a manner that is informed and is competent to balance the concerns that are often levelled against commercialization of cultural knowledge as something that destroys cultural value. The chapter argues that while business values are important; as they contribute to making indigenous knowledge (expressed through ceremonies, celebrations, heritage sites, etc.) dynamic, due care must be taken to ensure that over-commercialization does not kill the meaning of these practices (Debate.Org, 2016)).

The chapter will first classifies and defines the cultural or indigenous practices that are being targeted for commercialization. In the second instance the chapter discusses how communities or their associates exploit them, and whether such exploitation yields tangible community benefits. The question of sustainability, maintenance of indigenous cultural values and their respect by adventuring tourists will be critical in the discussion. Importantly also is that as communities venture into business with what they cherish as heritage, they should also understand that they have varied treasures in the form of intangible and tangible knowledge systems and that they should start formalizing for modern consumption. The discussion submits that at the national level, there is need for business strategies for the commercialization of culture and arts, and coordination of activities that celebrate them so that unnecessary competition can be avoided and maximization of benefits can be attained.