Sandy and Dandy

To bring people into perspective on my town, outlined is my town’s history and people (something I had to write for my community needs assessment for Peace Corps- not included is the other 25 pages).

Hukuntsi a village in the Kgalagadi District (pronounced as Kalahari). There are nine wards in Hukuntsi including Goo-Thaga, Goo-Kgosi, Goo-Magobelelo, Goo-Moselebe, Goo-Thsweu, Ga-Letsepa, Ga-Motlharo, and Ga-Mhutlha. Hukuntsi is located in the Kgalagadi North Sub-District located in the Kgalagadi Desert. According to the history of Hukuntsi, before people settled permanently here, they lived in numerous other settlements in the Kgalagari District which were later abandoned. People abandoned those settlements because the water had dried up and were in search of water and good pastures for their animals. Some of these abandoned areas are now used as cattle posts and field areas. Oral history suggests that Hukuntsi and other Macheng villages were founded because there was enough water in the pans for the people and animals, and there were large herds of wild animals for food as well.

The people who live in the Kgalagari are called Bakgalagari named after the region. The name 'Bakgalagari' means 'people of the great thirst for land' and it was given to different indigenous groups of people living on the outskirts of within the region. The name 'Bakgalagari' was extrapolated onto a (Western) Sotho-Tswana group, the Bantu speaking peoples who, because of war with Batsawana, were pushed onto the area--both who inhabit the area and those who are not residents in the region due to migrations. Bakgalagari do cross-borders into Namibia and are of Ngologa origin. Bakgalagari speak Shekgalagari language, which is often used as a common language in areas inhabited by the Khoe and the San communities.

Bakgalagari comprise Banalaongwe, Bangologa, Bashaga, Bakgwatheng, Bagyegwana, Bakhena, Batjhauba, Balala, Baphalent, etc. Other groups found in Hukuntsi are the Nama which is a Khoe group also called Bakgothu (Setswana) or Bakgotyhu (Shekgalagari). There is the Batlharo who are classified as Batswanaandin Matsheng, they live mostly in Hukuntsi. There are Afrikaners who are Indo-European settlers/traders who have now been residents in Hukuntsi for a considerable period of time. There are some Asian people who have been living in Hukuntsi mostly as tradesmen. Hukuntsi is surrounded by the settlements of Zutshwa, Ukhwi, Monong, Hunhukwe, Ncaang, Magke, and Ngwatle inhabited mostly by the !Xoo (San).

Hukuntsi means “many corners” and is named for its status as one of the four major villages in its region of the Kgalagadi Desert. It’s located 114 kilometers away from the village of Kang, off of the Gabarone-Ghanzi highway.  According to 2015 Statistics Botswana, there are 4,751 residents. The majority of the Hukuntsi population are Bangologa people, a Tswana clan. Hukuntsi is the headquarters for the Kgalagadi North Sub-District, and the Rural Administration Centre is there for government offices. Also located in Hukuntsi are a hospital, clinic, 3 elementary schools, and 1 community junior secondary school. The village is supported by Hukuntsi Airport. The town has guest housing, independently owned supermarkets, two wholesalers (Trans and Shoppers), butcheries, and variety shops.

The first/past two months in my town I was observing and inquiring different community members and stakeholders about the village life, services catered to the community, type of community outreach and events conducted, the different socio-economic needs of the community, and conducting a basic situational analysis and SWOT (Strength-Weakness-Opportunities-Threats) analysis of the town with approval from the Kgosi and my supervisor.

Fortunately during the first month and a half there were 4 Boitekanelo College interns that were completing their attachments (practicuum/internship) in Hukuntsi, so I was able to assist them in their analysis and implementation of interventions/events for the community to reduce alcohol abuse and improve fitness and well-being overall. Most of my uploaded photos on Facebook of community events were all due to the acceptance and kindness of those students and the health promotion officers for letting me participate and support those events. Shoutout to Yellow*, Miso*, KT*, and MY* for letting me be weird around ya'll <3

Currently I work at the pharmacy part-time (replacing the PCV that had been working there prior my arrival), and assisting the health promotion office and DAC (District AIDS Coordinator) office with any projects, community events, and planning that they need me to help out with. Work productivity has been consistent for the most part, I feel needed and useful in both places! I consider myself to be a drifter. Someone who floats between departments and places to help wherever and however I can. 

Days out here in the desert are pretty systematic and routine. Work during the week, hang out with my fellow PCV neighbor, Sam, on the weekends, concoct fun brunches, and interesting ways to snapshot our lives out in the Kgalagadi Desert, and try to maintain a consistent meditation focusing on my state of mind and purpose while living out the next two years here.

In the meanwhile, please continue to send thoughts and prayers my way for the continual of my service here to my town!

Also, if anyone would like to send snail mail my address is:
Bibiana Oe
PO Box 326 Hukuntsi Rent
Hukuntsi, Botswana