Wedding songs in Botswana: A reflection of the dynamics of marriage, gender relations and familial conflicts

Botswana, like many other developing countries, is undergoing rapid changes in social and cultural forms due to the effects of modernization. My research takes account of these changes on the wedding as a ritual and on the institution of marriage. Songs are very important components in the folklore of Botswana as they accompany almost all social activity. Every occasion in which people come together has particular songs for the event, including work, weddings and funerals. This study explores the themes portrayed in the wedding songs of the Bakgatla-ba-ga-Kgafela, paying particular attention to issues of gender. This is done through an examination of the marriage process, the wedding celebration as a social and ritual event, and the performance of the wedding songs, precisely the role of the performers and audience. The dissertation also focuses on familial or marital conflicts: the types and causes of these conflicts, how they are resolved, and how they relate to the songs.; Data was collected through ethnographic field methods, specifically in-depth interviews and participant-observation. Through attendance at weddings and interviews with both men and women of varying ages I observed the performance of the songs in the wedding ritual and elicited the views and opinions of individuals about the wedding songs. The data was analyzed using thematic and gender theory. The major finding of this study is that the weddings songs reflect the patriarchal nature of Botswana society and express idealized messages about marriage and family; but the songs also focus on the realities of married life, identifying primary tensions in relationships and the source of conflicts within the family.