Poetry and Patronage: The Sociocultural and Historical Vision of Raditladi's Sefalane sa Menate

Abstract

Summary This article illustrates different dimensions of social change regarding the Batswana and Western cultural norms. L.D. Raditladi was chosen, his poetry blending indigenous African- and Western-influenced themes and forms, and portraying common and shared ethos, beliefs and practices of the Batswana. His poetry also addresses social issues that are of particular significance to Africans who for so long have negotiated and navigated a world of contrasting social norms and values. Many modern Batswana continue attempting to harmonise their cultural values and norms with what they perceive as useful and relevant from so-called modern norms and values. It is a journey beset by fearful odds. Two poems, “Tshwano-logo” and “Fatshe la Batswana”, were chosen for this study. They exhibit the gist of the topic under discussion, and together with references to other poems by Raditladi, are employed to vividly display elements of societal transformation. Global changes – brought by new religion and education, artistic as well as edifying rudiments which exposed people to Western and other cultures – caused many nations to challenge their traditional practices. This article investigates the creative aptitude of the poet and his portrayal by means of poetry of the sociocultural setting of his time and the Batswana's journey from past to present.