The Chairman of UNESCO Secretariat, His Excellency M Samir Addahre has appreciated Botswana for submitting on time it’s first report on the status of the element -Dikopelo Folk Music of Bakgatla baa Kgafela in Kgatleng District inscribed in 2017 on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
Addahre expressed his profound gratitude to efforts made by Botswana to safeguard the element in particular, through engaging youth in the practice of the element,building capacities of practitioners, raising the visibility of the element and awareness of the general public within and beyond Kgatleng as well as addressing land ownership concerns to ensure adequate space for practice of Dikopelo.
In his acceptance speech Honourable Tumiso Rakgare thanked the Chairman and his committee for a thorough assessment of the report. He stated that the committee recognises and appreciates the effort taken to compile the report during the COVID 19 pandemic.
Rakgare appreciated Bakgatla ba Kgafela and Botswana ICH team for a job well done expressing gratitude to the Government of Botswana for availing the technical and financial resources towards implementation of the saveguarding plan of the Dikopelo Folklore music of Bakgatla ba Kgafela.
