In Botswana, farming has always been closely connected to the rhythms of nature - the rains, the dry seasons, and the changing of the year. When the sorghum, maize and other crops are finally ready to harvest, it is a moment of relief and celebration. Letlhafula brings people together to mark that moment with gratitude and joy.
At Letlhafula celebrations, families bring their finest foods to share. Bogobe porridge, seswaa, fresh vegetables, roasted corn and sweet sorghum beer (for adults) are all enjoyed together. There is traditional music, including dikgafela - special harvest songs sung to accompany the reaping. Young and old dance together on the village ground.
The festival also involves giving. Part of the harvest is traditionally set aside for those in the community who were unable to grow their own food - elderly people, those who were sick, or families who had a bad season. This sharing is considered a duty and an honour, not just an act of charity.
Letlhafula connects people to the land and to each other. Even as Botswana has become more urban, many families still celebrate the harvest in some form, cooking traditional dishes and gathering with extended family. Schools sometimes hold their own harvest festivals where children bring home-grown produce to share.