O, Setshogelo 49055275 

Blog Entry 

As a university student, one has a whole plethora of valuable networks and kinships, and in those networks and kinships, exchanges occur. In this blog I will reflect on my networks and kinships, and I will discuss who is part of them and how I relate to the people in them. Finally, I will then discuss the exchanges that take place through them. 

One is born with a network already, in my opinion, and that is your family. I have both parents present in my life and I also have an older sibling, my sister. I relate to them because they are my family. We exchange knowledge, help and love. My family are very valuable to me because they form a part of my identity. I believe part of who I am, is because of them. 

Additionally, outside of that, is my best friends. I wouldn't say I have only 1 best friend, but I have 5 best friends: Emeka, Marcel, Thatohatsi, Tshego and Leago. I relate to these 5 people because they are my best friends, they are my support system, literally. We exchange our company, love, support and so much more. Whenever I am having a difficult time with whatever, I know one of that have my bac, and vice versa. We motivate each other and push each other to reach our potentials. 

However, on campus, my network consists of my peers and lecturers. With my peers we relate because we share the same module and, on most occasions, we exchange notes and motivation. There is a friend in one of my modules where we study together and go over the work together. I relate to my lectures because they are my mentors and teachers, and I have the utter most respect for them. My lecturers and I, in a brief analysis, exchange knowledge and cooperation. They lecture me and teach me the module and in exchange I give my participation and good marks as well as cooperation. 

Furthermore, I live in a residence close to school, and I have a unit mate. Where we share a unit: bathroom, kitchen and lounge. I relate to him because he is my unit mate. We exchange certain things from time to time. There was an instance at the beginning of the year, where I suggested that it wouldn't be heavy on our pockets if we shared the buying of items around the unit, such as the cleaning equipment and bathroom essentials. I bought a broom, him a mop, I bought tissue, him toilet spray and so on and so forth. 

In conclusion, I have thoroughly reflected on my networks and kinships, explained who is part of the network and how I relate to the people in them. My network consists of my family, close friends, peers, lecturers and unit mate. Finally, I discussed the exchanges that take place through them. 

O Setshogelo, 49055275

Blog Entry 

I come and know from a Batswana household, where my grandparents and parents instilled in me respect to everyone, especially my elders. In this blog entry, I will talk about two beliefs that have shaped my worldview and others in my ethnic group. Those two beliefs are circumcision and the distribution of the womans clothes the day after her funeral.

Circumcision in the Batswana nation

In the Batswana nation, as a boy child, you are required to go "ko Thabeng", which translates to "going to the mountain". As a boy child you are then required to go to the mountain and undergo a transformation. This "process" happens over a span of a days or weeks, depending on your cooperation and your showing of "men" qualities. My grandparents and their grandparents have been doing this for generations, believing strongly on this. The elders view this, as a transition from being "moShimayama", which means boy, into being "Monna", meaning a man. Circumcision then takes place. Having to grow up under a 'diluted' Batswana household, I, myself did not go to the mountain for the "transformation", whereas I went to a hospital for circumcision. I assume that my parents knew that that wasn't the only way of becoming a man and having read about the fatalities and the lack of hygiene of "ko thabeng". Has this changed my worldview? Yes and no. Indeed, it has changed the worldview of those around me. My friends believe that going to the mountain, is the only way of becoming a man. Yet, this hasn't changed my worldview because I don't feel like I am a small boy just because I did not go to the mountain but a hospital. Although, again, it has changed my worldview, I now believe that it is tradition, and it is important to my people. 

Womans clothes the day after a funeral

According to the Batswana nation, a woman's clothes, exactly the day after the funeral, her clothes are to be given out/distributed amongst the family and friends or community. I witnessed this at my grandmother's funeral, where her clothes were given right away, the day after the funeral. It has been done so through many generations, and I asked my mother why. I felt like it was harsh and heartless that other people will be wearing my grandmothers' clothes, and it hasn't even been a week since her passing. But it is said that this is done to make sure that the person who passed, their belongings don't go to waste, but have purpose and meaning. Ever since that day, my worldview has changed, so to speak, it has helped me that even after the passing of someone, their belongings still have purpose and meaning, and their belonging won't go to waste.  

In conclusion, this blog has mentioned two beliefs in the Batswana culture, that have been going on for generations. Those beliefs being; circumcision and the giving away of the woman's clothes and belongings the day after the funeral. Both beliefs have changed my worldview, as mentioned above. 

O Setshogelo, 49055275  

Blog Entry: Learning Activity 2  

My senses awaken to the gentle melody of morning as the first rays of dawn poke through the curtains, luring me from the depths of sleep.  Part of my morning routine consists of my lethargic self, mindlessly scrolling through Tik Tok. Violently popping up today on my For You Page was a slideshow of stills from the film ‘Call Me By Your Name’. The song that was used, ‘Futile Devices’ by Sufjan Stevens, embracingly engulphed me into the alluring beautiful Crema and suddenly I was 16 years old, with nothing on except my underwear laying on my back watching ‘Call Me By Your Name’, it’s a gorgeous balmy day and I’m lying there without a care in the world, no academic stress whatsoever. How evocative the feeling was and at the same time Elio’s mother from the film recites a thought-provoking line from a 16th Century romance; “is it better to speak or to die”. The feeling was so vivid that it left a cavity, a pit of limerence in my gut. My limbs leaning lazily on the pristine wool sheets, I regretfully bid my bed farewell, its soothing warmth enveloping me.  

I prepare myself for a rather dread inducing day. I don’t grab anything to eat, ironically, I feel satiated even though there is a cavity growing abruptly in my stomach. As I step into campus, the lively atmosphere of academics comes alive on the university grounds. In the hallowed halls of the Social Anthropology classroom, a breathtaking goddess walks in, and my bosom flows with vehemence and all of a sudden, I'm struck and rendered immobile. Out of nowhere; “is it better to speak or to die”, the line lingers and parades in my hollow empty skull as I watch her pass by. “Should I introduce myself and confess my undying love to the goddess or do I die”, I ponder.  

I would’ve stopped there with this blog if I confessed, because nothing would matter, only her. But I chose to die. I can't help but be pulled to the well-known commotion of the campus café after class, where the aroma of warm pastries and the sound of laughter envelop me. The sounds of companionship and connection—the clink of porcelain cups, the hiss of the espresso machine, the soft murmur of conversation—combine to create a beautiful symphony.    

Back in the sanctuary of my room, I sink into the welcoming embrace of my bed. I spent my day faded and anaemic, you could see in my face I haven't been eating, I’m just wasting away. And as sleep claims me, “is it better to speak or to die”.  

O Setshogelo, 49055275  

Blog Entry  

By placing the other or out-group in a position of relative inferiority and/or extreme alienation, othering is the process of creating and identifying the self or in-group and the other or out-group in reciprocal, unequal opposition (Brons, 2015).  

I attended a primary school with a predominantly white student population, where I observed that the white students got first preference when it came to majority of activities and favours, such as getting elected as prefects and being on the first team when it came to sports. So, as a child I would think to myself that, wow, the white students are so cool and special. At the end of the day, I would see that the black students were ‘othered’.  

Having read Wainaina (2005), my perception drastically changed. “Your African characters may include naked warriors, loyal servants, diviners and seers, ancient wise men living in hermitic splendour”, these words empowered me, expelling the “otherness” I harboured from a young age (Wainaina, 2005). It meant, we too, are powerful and unique.  

Throughout my primary school years, I had only one narrative, that “white students are superior”. I believed that narrative so much that I didn’t believe that the average black student could amount to anything, until my fellow classmate, Alex, got elected for Head Boy. Along with that election he also had 5 distinctions under his belt. I was shocked and in disbelief. Listening to Adichie’s (2009) beautiful TED talk, I remembered Alex’s story. I was a child, and my simplistic narrative reduced my people to a single narrative. Adichie (2009) emphasizes the importance of embracing multiple narratives to foster empathy, tolerance and genuine human connection.  

In summary, the process of "othering" can cause some groups within society to become marginalized and alienated. I saw directly how the narrative of superiority given to one group might undermine the worth and potential of another, and my personal experiences at a largely white primary school shed light on the detrimental repercussions of this process. 

Reference List 

Adichie, C. 2009. The Danger of a Single Story. TED. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg.  

Brons, L. 2015. Othering, An Analysis. [online] ResearchGate. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273450968_Othering_An_Analysis.  

Wainaina, B. 2005. How to Write about Africa. [online] Granta Magazine. Available at: https://granta.com/how-to-write-about-africa/.