I am a proud Tswana young man and I grew up in a Tswana oriented area or community. through out my upbringing I was instilled with beliefs that I should amend to as a Tswana person, there are many beliefs that we take serious in my ethnic group but in this case i will only focus on two. I was born and bred in a dusty little place called koster in the north west province. as Tswana people we are very rich in culture and our beliefs and traditions play an important role in our identity just like I stated above in this blog i will focus on two things that make us even more deeply ingrained in our ethnic group.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           1. The importance of ancestors (BADIMO)

I was taught that as a Tswana person our ancestors play an important role in our life, we believe that our ancestors offer guidance, protection and wisdom this belief has been deep rooted in my life ever since I was little kid, that's why when we have something big coming like an interview or admission to a new school or even when we buy a new car we start  to thank our ancestors by making a traditional beer to give them or we pour a little sniff on the ground to show them that we didn't forget about them when life is great. and once in a while we slaugther a goat or a sheep as a way of asking for protection and to show that we see and appreciate the sacrifices that they made for us and we will continune needing their guidance.

2.The power of music and dance

Tswana people have a rich tradition of music and dance, which we believe has the power to bring us together and connect us with our ancestors and our history. Our traditional music and dance (Mokgatla) are often performed during cultural ceremonies and celebrations, and they play an important role in our cultural heritage.

We believe that music and dance have the power to heal, to teach, and to bring people together in a shared experience. Our traditional instruments, such as the moropa (drum) and the flute, are often used in our music and dance, and they add to the rich cultural significance of our traditional performances.

In conclusion, we as the Tswana people have endogenous beliefs and practices that are a vital part of our cultural heritage, shaping our values, traditions, and daily lives. These beliefs, passed down through generations, emphasize the importance of family and the importance of ancestors, music, and dance, rituals, and ceremonies. They also highlight the significance of ancestors, By embracing and preserving these endogenous beliefs, the Tswana people honor their rich cultural history and ensure its continuation for future generations. It is essential to recognize and respect the value of these beliefs, not only for the Tswana people but also for the diversity of human cultures and experiences.

what I understand about kinship networks is that they are a web of relationship between family members and close friends but it can get much more than that. I was raised and taught that I should always smile and be friendly to other people as we don't know what is happening in their life, people may be going through a lot in their life and your act of being friendly to them might make their day. when I was still living with my parents I knew that when I woke up I had to greet every one with a smile and ask how was their night and for that I would get a sit in the breakfast table with all kinds of food , in my family it was unacceptable to bring bad mood to the breakfast table.

I grew up with that mentality for example I'd often wash my brothers car so that he can help me with my home works on the weekends . Years later I worked in my grandfathers supermarket for free because they said I was family and they cant afford to pay the workers and me also but I didn't mind because helping my grandfather was always fun, I didn't mind because I knew that in that exchange I was offering my grandfather my services or help and I was also gaining experience .

Culture and religion also plays an important role in kinship and network exchange for example in my culture we have lobola, lobola is where the groom's family makes a payment to the Bride's family it can be in a form of money or livestock it is believed that lobola is some kind of a seal that will bond the family together and bring blessings. This lobola process can also be viewed as a network exchange because it involves the exchange of lobola for a bride.