A Pastoral Analysis of Evangelization Of the Basarwa Of Botswana
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Date
2002
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Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
"Mosarwa ke wena!" meaning "you Bushmen". This is a phrase I grew up knowing that, it
was not good to use referring to a Motswana. It refers to someone who is illiterate and
uncivilized. Basarwa are the most neglected and marginalized group in Botswana. Even today
those who have left the desert looking for greener pastures are still not respected. Some of the
men work as shepherds and the women as house girls and at some places they are really
exploited. Also, others have had the opportunity to go to school and are well educated just like
other people in the country. But still they are despised only because they are "Basarwa."
The Basarwa lack the basic necessities in life. At the moment they have pre-schools run
by a non- governmental organization called Tirisanyo Catholic Commision. Yount! Basanva
from the settlements go to school in the villages like Hukuntsi and live in hostels. That is when
they leave the bush and interact with children from other ethnic groups in Botswana whose
parents are working in the Kalahari area. The parents remain in the bush living their day-to-day
lives under difficult conditions.
When staying at the hostel the young Basarwa used to see people going to Church on
Sundays and other days during the week and they also started coming. The priest in I lukuntsi,
Fr Julian Black' bought a football for them and after Mass they remained at the parish playing.
The parish is open to them, even during the week they come; at times they are given sweets and
biscuits. During important feasts like Independence Day and Christmas, parties are organized
for them and they always look forward to such occasions. It is at the Church where they found happiness and comfort. As time went on the young
ones expressed their desire to be members of the Church and to receive the sacraments. Having
stayed with them and known them well, when taking them home Fr. Julian asked their parents if
it was possible for him to accept them into the Church. The parents were happy and allowed
him to start teaching them catechism in preparation to receive the sacraments.
That was a major step of evangelization of the Basarwa. The parents also shared what
they had heard before of the gospel, but the pastors of the the London Missionary Society who
came did not stay long. The Basarwa are eager to hear the word of God and if possible to
receive the sacraments. Some of the elders expressed their desire to become members of the
Church and asked Fr. Julian to avail himself to them as well not only their children who go to
school where the Church is already established. In the desert normally preachers come and
pitch their tents and start preaching but afterwards they disappear. In a way that is frustrating to
the Basarwa. After years of hard labor in the Kalahari desert Fr. Julian is happy to see even the
most neglected and isolated people showing interest in the Church. Through all the years he has
been known to the Basarwa as "the one who lives alone." Now they are beginning to see a new
reality of his presence among them, they know that he is there to bring the good news to them.
That is a major step, they feel loved and accepted by the white man who has left his own
country to minister to the people in Botswana, the Basarwa included. These are the early stages
of evangelization among the Basarwa. They may still be too optimistic about the new religion
but only time will tell where the seeds planted will fall. Will those expressing their desire to
embrace Catholicism keep the faith. With time we shall see what happens in the process of evangelization among the Basarwa, how
many will keep the new faith for long and contribute to the establishment of the Church in the
settlements.
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Keywords
Evangelization, Pastoral Analysis