Borankana refers to a traditional music in
Botswana
Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label= Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalaha ...
which is usually practiced or performed by
Bakwena tribe in the
Kweneng District
Kweneng is one of the districts of Botswana and is the recent historical homeland of the Bakwena people, the first group in Botswana converted to Christianity by famed missionary David Livingstone. Various landmarks, including Livingstone's Cav ...
of Botswana (
Molepolole
Molepolole is a large village in Kweneng District, Botswana.
The people who reside in Molepolole are called Bakwena, who are one of the eight major tribes in Botswana. The Bakwena Kgosi (Chief), Sebele I was among the three chiefs who went to ...
). Borankana is strongly connected to the
culture of Botswana
Besides referring to the language of the dominant people groups in Botswana, '' Setswana'' is the adjective used to describe the rich cultural traditions of the Batswana - whether construed as members of the Setswana ethnic groups or of all ci ...
.The other used name for Borankana is Phathisi. Borankana is traditionally performed by both elderly people and young people. According to history, Borankana was performed during tribal activities only. It is believed according to history that only man and boys were the ones dancing whilst the females sang, clapped hands and
Ululated during performances.
Origins of Phathisi/ Borankana
Borankana performances are estimated to have initiated by the year 1914 and 1916. According to history Phathisi came from a man tying down the lowest part of his trouser using a peg when he cycles.
In the past, man used to work in mines using their bicycles and for one man to own a bicycle they have to be wealthy enough to be able to purchase one, and the trouser had to be tied hard to avoid toppling of the rider or the trouser being hooked by the chain. The same process of trouser pegging was used when performing Borankana.It was changed from pegging the lower part of the trouser to using shorts when performing the Borankana.
References
Dance in Botswana
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