Botswana

 by Gabe and Logan

Botswana is a small country in southern Africa just north of South Africa.  Despite its small size this country has a population of 1,815,508.  of the languages spoken there the most major one is Setswana.  the country was originally colonized by brittain and recieved independance in 1920.  in there goverment structure the president is the head of state and goverment but is not a dictator and cn be removed from power or lose and election.  It is a multy party program.  the main religion is cristianity though some of the older tribal cultures have survived.  specifically bushmen.  several tribes of bushmen have survived and this is one of the main place where they still live the traditional way. 

this country has some of the most prolific wildlife. in Africa.  specifically the oktavango delta.  this area of delta is made up of a watery wilderness of permanent floodplains.  this area is part of the migration patterns of many large African animals and has been featured in many wildlife documentarys including planet earth.  the herds that populate this floodplain are massive and atract thousand of tourists each year.  here is a video taken in the delta it desplays the behavior of some of the areas wildlife.  plus a suprising fact.  the one with the lions does have OMG a lot but I understand why.  just thought you'd like the warning for if you find that term offensive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0zRj2FA37o  

http://www.gov.bw/en/Tools--Services/National-Strategy-Documents1/

http://www.avert.org/aids-botswana.htm

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bc.html

http://go2africa.com

http://worldtravelguide.net

http://greenwichmeantime.org

http://botswanaworlds.com

I Am Botswana

By Logan

I am a caring country that has conflict and problems that wants so much to solve our troubles. I wonder if our time will ever come. I hear the cries of mothers needing help. I see our cities drowned in darkness . I want to give my people what they need. I am a country that has conflict and problems.

I feel the pain of the homeless and the sick. I touch the hand of god as he reaches out to help us. I smell the death of animals and people. I worry about the age people dying at. I cry for the people who are unfortunate. I am a country that has conflict and problems.

I understand we cannot be perfect. I say we can try to do are best. I dream that soon we will have more. I try to make us become more of a community. I hope we will someday have no conflict or problems. I am Botswana.       

Artist's Statement

By Logan

Ever wonder what the country Botswana looks like in mask form?  My mask represents Botswana. As you look at the mask you will see that over the eyes is the Botswana flag which is blue around the outside and black and white in the middle. The black letters ABC represent that the people of Botswana speak English. The yellow dots on the bottom of the chin represents the countries' warm climate. The dark green represents the nice land and wildlife that Botswana has. This is what Botswana looks like in mask form.

Gabe artists statement for mask.

My country is called Botswana a dry sick but thriving world. This is my mask. The yellow and the orange represent sand the country is dominated by sand.  The brown is murky water showing the swamps and great floodplains of other parts of my country.  The crocodile represents the countries amazing wildlife primarily in the floodplains.  The spear embedded over the crocs left eye is to represent the fact that this is one of the few places in Africa which still harbors substantial numbers of native Bushmen.   The puss leaking out of the wound represents the plagues that have visited the country recently.  It dribbles into the eye because like so many other things in Africa we are still oblivious and blind to it.  But otherwise Botswana is a dry but thriving world.