- Partnership brokered with Nhabe Museum for curatorial support
The preservation of cultural heritage for the Basubiya tribe in Chobe is nearing a major breakthrough. Following a strategic partnership with the Nhabe Museum, brokered by Chobe Impact, the corporate investment arm of Chobe Holdings Limited, the long-awaited opening of the Veekuhane Cultural Museum in Kavimba Village is finally within reach. This collaboration is designed to provide the specialised curatorial expertise necessary to transform the site into a premier cultural destination.
Nhabe Museum Curator, Tumelo Thuthuka, recently conducted a pivotal site visit to the Veekuhane Cultural Museum. Facilitated and accompanied by Chobe Impact Manager Ibo Mdandume, the visit involved high-level meetings with village leadership to establish professional standards for displays and exhibitions. This engagement marks the final push to ensure that, upon its official opening, the museum operates as a world-class cultural institution capable of hosting international and local guests.
The project represents a significant addition to the limited number of community-managed museums in Botswana. Beyond its physical presence, the institution is set to play a vital role in the preservation of Basubiya culture. Furthermore, it introduces a much-needed cultural tourism product to a region historically dominated by wildlife tourism. The initiative is deeply rooted in the traditional leadership of the tribe, emerging from a desire to celebrate and protect indigenous history.
This recent progress follows a productive benchmarking exercise conducted by Kgosi Sinvula at the Nhabe Museum in Maun. During that meeting, the two museum leaders established the framework for their ongoing partnership, aligning their goals for curatorial excellence.
The museum began as a core vision of Munitenge Lawrence Liswani Sinvula III in 2021. During a briefing with Thuthuka and village leaders, Munitenge Sinvula III detailed the project’s evolution, emphasising his goal of cultural preservation as a means to empower the tribe financially through the tourism sector. When he ascended to the throne, he identified the revival of Basubiya culture as a top priority, seeking to ensure his people benefit directly from the booming tourism industry in the Chobe region.
The primary obstacle to this vision was a lack of initial capital. However, the project received a significant boost from Chobe Game Lodge, a subsidiary of Chobe Holdings Limited. The lodge funded the transformation of the historic Leobo la Kgotla ya Kavimba into the current museum structure and supported the acquisition of authentic artifacts that narrate the rich history of the Basubiya people.
With the physical structure complete and the collection of artifacts secured, the project reached a critical juncture. Following advice from the Department of National Museum and Monuments, it was determined that professional curatorial expertise was essential to meet national standards. This requirement was the final hurdle before the public opening. By brokering the partnership with Nhabe Museum, Chobe Impact has ensured that Thuthuka’s expertise will guide the museum through its final preparations, securing a legacy of cultural pride and economic opportunity for the tribe.
