Mochudi

Mochudi is the capital of the Bakgatla ba Kgafela, who moved here in 1871, and it climbs a hill above the Notwane valley with the kgotla and the chief's compound at its centre. The Phuthadikobo Museum occupies the old school on the hilltop and covers the village's history and material culture. Two traditions of the Kgatleng District are on UNESCO's urgent safeguarding list: dikopelo, the unaccompanied choral singing practised here, and the district's earthenware pottery-making skills.

Background

With 50,321 people in 2022, Mochudi ranks among the larger villages in Botswana. It lies about 37 kilometres northeast of Gaborone, a few kilometres off the A1 road between Gaborone and Francistown, and is reached by a short turn at Pilane. The village stands at 938 metres. The Bakgatla came from what is now South Africa, and in 1871 they made their home below Phuthadikobo Hill, beside the Notwane River. The museum on that hill holds the history of the Bakgatla and of Batswana more widely. In fiction the village is the birthplace of Mma Ramotswe, the central character of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books.

Source: Wikipedia, "Mochudi"

The main sights

• The Phuthadikobo Museum - village history and material culture in the old hilltop school.
• The kgotla - the Bakgatla meeting place at the centre of the village.
• The dikopelo tradition - unaccompanied choral singing recognised by UNESCO as in need of safeguarding.
• The painted homesteads - decorated walls on traditional compounds around the village.

When to go

April to September is the dry season and the most comfortable. The museum keeps weekday hours and can be closed at weekends. Dikopelo performances happen at community events rather than on a schedule.

Before you go

There is no scheduled performance of the traditions; seeing dikopelo depends on an event being on. The museum is small and its hours are unreliable. Photographing homesteads needs permission.

Nearby

Matsieng footprints are nearby, and Gaborone is south.

Key facts