The dual nature of Setswana wedding songs: expressions of peace and conflict within families

Abstract

Songs are very important components in the folklore of Botswana as they accompany almost all social activity. Every occasion in which people come together has particular songs for the event, including work, wedding and funerals. This paper argues that Setswana wedding songs have a dual nature, that is they express peace and harmony, but they also insinuate conflict within families. Most of the songs talk about what should be done in order to have a peaceful marriage and a good relationship with one’s in-laws. They also talk about possibilities of conflict that may arise in a marriage if one does not conform to the prescribed expectations. The paper analyses selected wedding songs thematically to exemplify the dual nature of these songs.