The Beautiful In-Between: Botswana’s Everyday Pastime Activities That Keep Life Moving
When people think of Botswana, two things often dominate the conversation: diamonds and wildlife. And yes, mining fuels the economy and safaris wow the world—but what about the quieter rhythm of everyday life?
Beyond industry and recreation, there’s a whole layer of activities Batswana do to pass the time. They may not show up on tourism brochures or business reports, but they’re essential to what it means to live in this beautiful country.
These aren’t just hobbies. They’re practices of peace, pride, and purpose.
1. Storytelling and Neighborhood Chats
Across villages and townships, elders and neighbors gather under trees or outside tuckshops. Whether it’s sharing folk tales, discussing politics, or analyzing the latest football match—this unstructured yet sacred time is social glue. No phones needed. Just people.
It won’t end mining, but it might end isolation.
2. Small-Scale Gardening and Backyard Farming
From Maun to Molepolole, many families grow morogo, maize, or onions in small plots. It’s not agribusiness—it’s part therapy, part tradition, part necessity.
You’ll often hear: “Ga re rekwe morogo, re itirela!”
(“We don’t buy spinach—we grow it!”)
It’s not a mining alternative. It’s a lifestyle upgrade.
3. Crafting, Beading & Basket Weaving
Especially in areas like the Okavango and the Kalahari, local artisans spend hours creating stunning baskets, bracelets, and mats. These aren’t factory products—they’re slow art, born from memory and patience.
Some sell them. Others just make them for pride.
It can’t replace diamond exports—but it preserves identity.
4. Listening to Radio Stations & Call-In Shows
Radio Botswana, Duma FM, Yarona, Gabz FM—tuning in is a daily ritual. Whether it’s sermons, political commentary, Tswana music, or debates, people use radio as a mirror to the national conversation.
This activity builds awareness—and sometimes, pure laughter.
It won’t replace copper or coal, but it builds a connected nation.
5. Attending Church Gatherings and Home Prayers
From Sunday services to Thursday night fellowship, spirituality is a central, time-filling part of life for many Batswana. Prayer groups, choirs, and home devotion sessions are common—and powerful.
These gatherings foster mental strength, purpose, and emotional balance.
They’re not an economic strategy—but they’re a soul strategy.
6. Sewing, Knitting, and Traditional Dress Making
Across townships, older women and youth alike take pride in tailoring uniforms, repairing clothes, or making beautiful traditional garments like leteise. It’s a labor of love, passed on through generations.
It may not shift GDP figures—but it strengthens cultural threads.
7. Cattle Watching and Herding (Even If Just One Cow)
Yes, even those with small kraals find peace in checking on cattle, goats, or chickens. It's not full-scale farming—it's connection to land and routine. A visit to the lands clears the mind and gives structure to slow days.
Mining makes money—but livestock makes meaning.
Final Thoughts: Not Competing, Just Coexisting
The truth is, Botswana doesn’t need to choose between mining and meaning. These daily, soulful activities may not make the headlines, but they give people rhythm, relief, and resilience.
They don’t threaten the economy.
They strengthen the people behind it.
So the next time someone asks what Batswana do “for fun” or “to make money,” remind them that not all value is economic. Some of it lives in the small, slow, and sacred.
By: Tawana Maposa
tawanamaposa03@gmail.com
Contact:26775424417
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Message tawanamaposa3 on WhatsApp. https://wa.me/26775424417
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