The Pan Afrikanist Watchman
The 8th annual Japan-Botswana Children’s Painting Exhibition has been showing at Ben Thema Primary School next to African Mall in Gaborone.
The exhibition opened on November 11th and ended on Thursday November 18th (yesterday). It showcased a host of pictures made by Japanese students from a school called Chigasaki Primary School.
The idea is for Batswana students to imagine and feel Japan through the paintings so that they can stimulate their interest in other people’s cultures and perchance see the similarities in both cultures.
The Ben Thema students’ paintings will also be sent by Nippon Express, a Japanese logistics company, to Chigasaki primary for the students there to enjoy them in December and also imagine and feel what life in Botswana is like.
Japanese Ambassador to Botswana Hoshiyama Takashi used the opening ceremony to teach the students – mostly Standard 3 classes – about Japan, its people, climate, size, culture and traditions, including about its renowned technology that has given the world, Toyota motor vehicles, which are a common feature in Botswana’s roads.
Also on hand to give a word of encouragement was the former Ambassador of Botswana to Japan and now Deputy Permanent Secretary, Bilateral Diplomacy, in the Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation, Nkoloi Nkoloi.
The DPS applauded the students for “playing such a key role” by connecting the two countries, promoting their culture and making the people to people interaction a reality through the exchange of artworks that depict their lifestyles and traditions in their respective countries.
Nkolo also expressed a desire and hope to see the paintings displayed during the 8th Tokyo International Cooperation on African Development (TICAD 8) scheduled for Tunisia next year.
He also encouraged all stakeholders –teachers, parents, community, sponsors and government- to continue supporting the programme.
