From a Phone Call to the High Court: Wayeyi Visibility and the Kamanakao Association's Campaign for Linguistic and Cultural Rights in Botswana

bibliographic database
Line

Periodical article

Title:	From a Phone Call to the High Court: Wayeyi Visibility and the Kamanakao Association's Campaign for Linguistic and Cultural Rights in Botswana
Author:	Nyati-Ramahobo, Lydia
Year:	2002
Periodical:	Journal of Southern African Studies
Volume:	28
Issue:	4
Period:	December
Pages:	685-709
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Botswana
Subjects:	Yeyi lawsuits minority groups group rights human rights Law, Human Rights and Violence Ethnic and Race Relations Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/823347
Abstract:	This article, by the Coordinator of the Kamanakao Association, reflects upon the Association's campaign against tribally discriminatory laws and the social stigma of past serfdom, and for human rights and democracy in Botswana. The campaign made Wayeyi from the North West District highly visible on the national scene. Through litigation up to the High Court, the Kamanakao Association broke new ground for judicial review in the broad public interest. The advance was for the cultural rights of 'minorities' in general, not only in the interests of Wayeyi. The most favourable High Court ruling recognized Yeyi cultural distinctness, allowed them to secede from the tribe of their past overlords, the Tawana, and concluded a landmark case in the wider fight against State-backed tribal discrimination and denial of language rights. Notes, ref., sum. (Journal abstract, edited)