Ni dumele!
Welcome to the Tjhauba Life, Culture, and Language Portal
Introduction
The Tjhauba language is spoken by Bakgalagadi peoples living in northwestern Botswana. Tjhauba is distinct from other varieties of Kgalagadi because of heavy contact with neighboring communities, such as the Bayeyi and Bahambukushu, as well as Khoe language communities. Tjhauba communities are situated in the Okavango Delta - an ecologically distinct region of Botswana. The fertile lands and rivers support cattle-rearing and fishing as main subsistence strategies. The arable land lends itself to growing crops as well.
Quick Facts about Tjhauba
- Villages
- Shakawe, Nxamasere
- Subsistence
- Cattle rearing, fishing
- Language Family
- Sotho-Tswana
Tjhauba culture is full of traditions and rituals. One traditional meal is called "shikumbira", which consists of uncooked sorghum mixed with water and sugar. The ritual called "bongwalie" is one that occurs anytime a girl in the village reaches puberty. She is brought into a house where men cannot see her, and she is taught how to protect and carry herself as a woman by grandmothers until they reintroduce her to the village through a celebration, which involves dancing all afternoon, and a traditional meal called "leshelwa". After this, she is ready to help her family with home chores and removing weeds at farming lands during the ploughing season.