Linked with Lydia Nyati-Ramahobo – Botswana, and with The Case of Shiyeyi in Botswana.
The Kamanakao Association is a registered non-governmental organization with the basic objective of maintaining and developing the remnants of the language and culture of the Wayeyi people of northern Botswana. Shiyeyi refers to both the language and culture of the Wayeyi people. In Shiyeyi, Kamanakao means « remnants. » Since its establishment, the association has worked tirelessly to convince the Government of Botswana to officially denounce the people of Wayeyi tribe as minority and also recognise their chieftainship as legitimate. Some efforts have been fruitfull!
The Kamanakao Association is one of the organizations assisting government to achieve the goal of recognizing and developing other languages for literacy as a necessary tool for development. It is willing to assist other groups to develop their languages so that Batswana can know and walk hand in hand with one another with pride and dignity in the hearts of all. This is necessary for unity and development.
Objectives:
- To develop and maintain the Shiyeyi language and culture;
- To carry out and disseminate research on Shiyeyi language, culture, traditions, customs, life-styles, norms, beliefs and other related issues;
- To cultivate an appreciation of and knowledge about the Shiyeyi culture;
- To promote the storage, retrieval, dissemination and development of Shiyeyi literary and cultural materials;
- To collaborate with other bodies interested in the promotion and maintenance of language and culture.
Kamanakao long-term vision (See more on this and the following pages).