I am a black Tswana woman, born into the rich environment of tradition and culture, knitted from the threads of history, shaped by the hands of ancestors who walked this land before me. My identity is shaped the different teachings and beliefs deeply rooted in the soil of my homeland and is passed on to subsequent generations, these beliefs include;

Before a child is born; When a woman is pregnant out of wedlock she goes with her family to her partner's family (father of the baby) this process is called "go bega molato" it is when the women's family goes announce the "damage" done to their daughter and request an amount of money but before this process happens, the partner is asked if he knows the woman and if he indeed impregnated her if he does agree then a specific amount of money is negotiated upon to pay for the damages he caused to the woman before he married her. 

After childbirth, a process named "Dikgosi" is had after a few days after the child is born. During this process the baby is introduced into the partner's home and given a name, in the Tswana culture, often names are created with meaning, or a specific name is passed down from generations after this a ceremony known as " go latla kujwana" meaning the baby's umbilical cord is buried at a sacred place in the home, this is to emphasise connection and continuity of life between child and ancestor.

Ancestral veneration "mosebetsi wa badimo", this process occurs when the family comes together to pay homage to the ancestors by gifting them with clothing with symbols of lineage, traditional beer, snuff, food and bottles of whiskey as a way of showing gratitude. Prayers of thankfulness accompanied by the scent of incense and a pinch of snuff as a way to talk to the ancestors, during all this the men slaughter a chicken, goat or cow as a statement between the living and the departed. Even in times of adversity, some others draw strength and seeks guidance from the ancestors, they believe that the ancestors walk with them and guide their steps. 

Being a Tswana woman is embracing the richness of my culture and the stories as part of who l am. embedding these beliefs, close to their heart as they remind me of where l come from or know from, shaping my worldview on pre-birth after birth and the ancestral veneration.