The story of modern education in the Lenyatso family is closely linked with the struggle for gender equality in the family. It was a collective effort by two women, a mother and her daughter in the name of BakaElizabeth and Elizabeth. Their determination and perhaps foresight indeed opened new avenues and opportunities for female children in the family. TaElizabeth's or (Lenyatso Elizabeth's father) position which was supported by his relatives, that modern education was only necessary for male children was seriously challenged and finally the old man succumbed. This was victory for all females in the Lenyatso family and indeed in the Mmani family as a whole.
This is the story of the Two women:
Elizabeth Lenyatso, Kelebile and Lenyatso's first child was born in 1947. she recieved her primary education from Mapoka primary school, where she completed her standard seven in 1966. She was however not fortunate enough to be offered a place in any of the few secondary and teacher training colleges which existed at the time. Elizabeth who was 19 years when she completed her primary education ( I am not sure why she took so long to complete her primary education) spent the whole of 1967 at home looking after her father's cattle during the day and cooking meals for the family in the evening. During this time the Lenyatso's family was composed of seven members including mme and tate. The other members were as follows: Elizabeth; Gibson; Fathazia; Never and Buyisani.
While Tate Lenyatso was expecting her to get married and increase the family head she had other ideas. It appears that in addition to her family chores she remained up todate with information on existing opportunities for further studies.
One morning in January, 1968 Elizabeth confronted father (TaElizabeth) crying and demanding that she should be allowed to go to Serowe to seek a place (vacancy). I do not know if she had applied before or not. Tate who was obviously relunctant to let her go told her that he did not have money for her to undertake the trip to Serowe. It was at this point that mme (BakaElizabeth) intervened by saying "I have money from the sale of my cow". This was the cow she brought from her family when she got married to father. Confronted with this situation tate had no choice but to relunctantly agreed to take Elizabeth to Serowe. This was Elizabeth's first major trip outside her villge beyond Francistown. If the resources which mme (BakaElizabeth) provided made the trip to Serowe possible the love between daughter and father made it easier to undertake. Tate took Elizabeth to Serowe and left her there so that she could queue at the principal's office everyday to beg for a place. Two weeks down the line Elizabeth had not got a place but she kept on going to the principal's office everyday (She can say more about her daily experiences). It was in the third week that she wrote to say, she had finally got a place at the then Serowe Teacher Training College, now known as Serowe College of Education. This time father did not make any excuses. He provided all the necessary support to ensure that her daughter pursue her studies. When Elizabeth came home at the end of first term, the whole family was excited and proud of her achievement. She was very pretty and light in complexion. Personally I was very proud of my sister indeed. Elizabeth successfully completed her training in 1969 and was subsquently appointed to teach at Mosojane Primary school in 1970. The relationship between Elizabeth and Father got seriously strained when she fell pregnant with her first child in 1969. everything was however forgotten when she was appointed to a teaching post. To demonstrate her loyalty to father when she got her first salary she brought the cheque home for all of us to see and father went with her to cash it for her. Despite the fact that she had her own young child she used part of the money she earned from her teaching job to assist the family in times of need. Her committment and material contribution to the welbieng of the family convinced tate (father) that it was also good to educate female children and ideeded the door to school was opened for all the children.
When it was Fathazia's time to go to secondary school there was no question of tate not having money and the rest followed. This is the end of the story. Thanks to Elizabeth.
Kelebile BakaElizabeth Lenyatso was the Daughter of Marumo Nkhumisa and Majoka Mpini. Kelebile got married to Lenyatso Malibamba mmani in 1946. They had four children. She was born in 1924 and Died in 2008 at the age of 84 years.
Lenyatso Socks Skhumba Malibamba was born in 1917 to Malibamba Mmani and Nsiwa Tjilitje. He died in 2003 at the age of 86.
Ezelani ne Dothodzo!!! May thier souls rest in peace!!!!
This is the story of the Two women:
Elizabeth Lenyatso, Kelebile and Lenyatso's first child was born in 1947. she recieved her primary education from Mapoka primary school, where she completed her standard seven in 1966. She was however not fortunate enough to be offered a place in any of the few secondary and teacher training colleges which existed at the time. Elizabeth who was 19 years when she completed her primary education ( I am not sure why she took so long to complete her primary education) spent the whole of 1967 at home looking after her father's cattle during the day and cooking meals for the family in the evening. During this time the Lenyatso's family was composed of seven members including mme and tate. The other members were as follows: Elizabeth; Gibson; Fathazia; Never and Buyisani.
While Tate Lenyatso was expecting her to get married and increase the family head she had other ideas. It appears that in addition to her family chores she remained up todate with information on existing opportunities for further studies.
One morning in January, 1968 Elizabeth confronted father (TaElizabeth) crying and demanding that she should be allowed to go to Serowe to seek a place (vacancy). I do not know if she had applied before or not. Tate who was obviously relunctant to let her go told her that he did not have money for her to undertake the trip to Serowe. It was at this point that mme (BakaElizabeth) intervened by saying "I have money from the sale of my cow". This was the cow she brought from her family when she got married to father. Confronted with this situation tate had no choice but to relunctantly agreed to take Elizabeth to Serowe. This was Elizabeth's first major trip outside her villge beyond Francistown. If the resources which mme (BakaElizabeth) provided made the trip to Serowe possible the love between daughter and father made it easier to undertake. Tate took Elizabeth to Serowe and left her there so that she could queue at the principal's office everyday to beg for a place. Two weeks down the line Elizabeth had not got a place but she kept on going to the principal's office everyday (She can say more about her daily experiences). It was in the third week that she wrote to say, she had finally got a place at the then Serowe Teacher Training College, now known as Serowe College of Education. This time father did not make any excuses. He provided all the necessary support to ensure that her daughter pursue her studies. When Elizabeth came home at the end of first term, the whole family was excited and proud of her achievement. She was very pretty and light in complexion. Personally I was very proud of my sister indeed. Elizabeth successfully completed her training in 1969 and was subsquently appointed to teach at Mosojane Primary school in 1970. The relationship between Elizabeth and Father got seriously strained when she fell pregnant with her first child in 1969. everything was however forgotten when she was appointed to a teaching post. To demonstrate her loyalty to father when she got her first salary she brought the cheque home for all of us to see and father went with her to cash it for her. Despite the fact that she had her own young child she used part of the money she earned from her teaching job to assist the family in times of need. Her committment and material contribution to the welbieng of the family convinced tate (father) that it was also good to educate female children and ideeded the door to school was opened for all the children.
When it was Fathazia's time to go to secondary school there was no question of tate not having money and the rest followed. This is the end of the story. Thanks to Elizabeth.
Kelebile BakaElizabeth Lenyatso was the Daughter of Marumo Nkhumisa and Majoka Mpini. Kelebile got married to Lenyatso Malibamba mmani in 1946. They had four children. She was born in 1924 and Died in 2008 at the age of 84 years.
Lenyatso Socks Skhumba Malibamba was born in 1917 to Malibamba Mmani and Nsiwa Tjilitje. He died in 2003 at the age of 86.
Ezelani ne Dothodzo!!! May thier souls rest in peace!!!!
A very good story. I think it was normal to finish primary school at 19 by those times
ReplyDeleteElizabeth is a great woman indeed,thanx to Elizabeth again!
ReplyDeletemy mum was born to shine,she started shining at a tender age and she still continue to shine...at least my uncle can define her better that she is the family's main star.above al thank u grandma,u were the d best grandma eva....we mis n luv u 2 bits.may your soul rest in peace.
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