The Okavango Baskets Society, based in Etsha 6, is using basket weaving and other traditional cultural activities to preserve local heritage while creating opportunities for community members and visitors to experience Botswana’s indigenous crafts.
According to the society’s Chief Executive Officer, Jack Mbambo, the organisation was established last year with a focus on bringing together members of local communities and creating opportunities for the community at large with inclusion of people with disabilities in its programmes.
Mbambo said the society’s cultural experience takes visitors through the various stages of traditional basket production, beginning with an introduction in a Kgotla setting.
“The Kgotla setting is where they are welcomed and it is used for performances and storytelling,” he said.
Visitors are then introduced to the process of preparing palm materials, including boiling and colouring the palm, before being given an opportunity to observe master weavers at work.
The experience also includes interactive cultural activities, with visitors given an opportunity to learn traditional practices such as using a pestle and mortar.
Mbambo said the society also offers basket-weaving lessons to members of the public who want to learn the craft from experienced artisans, with classes ongoing anda structured fee yet to be finalized.
He explained that basket weaving is traditionally passed down through generations, with many craftsmen learning the skill from their mothers and elders.
The society has also introduced free lessons for children, aimed at equipping younger generations with both the practical skills and cultural knowledge associated with basket weaving.
Teachers from local schools are also invited to participate in the lessons, Mbambo said, as part of efforts to ensure that traditional knowledge continues to be passed on to younger generations.
The society’s activities are also supported by local tourism camps, which bring tourists to experience the cultural activities and purchase locally produced crafts.
Mbambo said this support provides an important economic benefit to the community by creating a market for traditional products.
He added that the society had observed growing interest among local residents, who were increasingly keen to participate, teach their children and learn more about cultural diversity.
“We welcome them to visit us and interact with the culture,” he said.
The Okavango Baskets Society offers a range of cultural experiences and products, including the sale of traditional baskets and wood carvings, basket-making demonstrations and weaving lessons.
Other activities include traditional storytelling, traditional dances and games, a traditional camping site, and demonstrations of traditional pounding techniques.
Through these activities, the society seeks to keep traditional skills alive while providing visitors with an opportunity to experience the cultural practices behind the crafts they encounter.
Mbambo said the organisation’s approach combines cultural preservation with community participation and economic opportunities, particularly through tourism.
