Report on Orality story workshop.

Place: Botswana, D'Kar

Participants: D'Kar, East-Hanahai, Tshobokwane

Language groups: Naro

Facilitator: Durk Meijer Trainee: Rogers Ambe

Translation consultant: Hessel Visser

SE Coordinator: Coby Visser

Sponsored by SEED company

Participants:

There were 12 participants: Church nominations: Reformed Church, Church groups like Apostle and Zionist Church.

Scripture Engagement : Story telling NARO workshop - content

This was the first Orality storytelling workshop amongst the NARO SAN in Botswana.

The goal of this workshop:

TO  bring the catalist workshop in practise by preparing stories for the NARO community.

Four sessions:

1. The situation amongst the NARO in the whole Gantsi district

2. The most common form of orality amongst the Naro

2. Difficulties in the Cultural situation amongst the Christians off the NARO SAN

3. Choose the story and practice it

4. Way forward

1. The situation amongst the NARO in the whole Gantsi district

1. The Naro group is the biggest group amongst the SAN in Botswana. The people are spread over 6 settlements 2 villages and several farms. There for it is important that there is a supervisor who will guide the groups in the different places and who will keep contact with them. Marea Camm was appointed for this. Her first task will be to make a plan for the coming months and to guide it until the next workshop.

In all the places there are several churches. It is not that the gospel enters the place for the first time. So there is an awareness of Christianity and the bible and the God of the Bible. The NT written and audio, Genesis, Exodus, Jonah, Bible study booklet, parables, good news booklets, song books (with worship songs) other materials are available for the Naro people to use.

Amongst the Naro after discussion the participants concluded that there is amongst the people 20% Pure Traditional believe, 79% Naro are syncretistic and 1% of the Naro are Christians.

2. The most common form of orality amongst the Naro

Storytelling, discussion, songs, art, drama and dance are the ways the San express themselves.

The history, their tradition, believes are the topics by the elderly people. The traditional stories are told around the fire, but also when they are coming back from their hunting and gathering trips.

Their traditional dance shows often a hunting story. Songs are part of their lives and are common, during special times of rain, sickness and further used as entertainment.

Drama and painting are not common used in Bible storying

Storytelling and parables are a huge part of the Naro people.

Therefore the group believes that the storying Bible parts can work very well.

2. Difficulties in the Cultural situation amongst the Christians off the NARO SAN

This part took some time and was not easy to tell their difficulties, when they became, during the workshop they got more free to give their testimonies.

The most difficult part that came out the testimonies, now they are Christians, and when hard times are coming, then is it difficult not to go back to their old tradition and believe.

We had a discussion about this and decided to look for stories in the Bible where temptation was a big issue.

3.  Choose the story and practice it

We came up with the following list and choose Math 4: 1-11 to practice.

1. Exodus 32
2. 1 Kings 18
3. Acts 17
4. Judges 11
5. Deut 13
6. Psalm 1
7. Matt 4
8. Psalm 37
9. Matt 4

The main characters:

Jesus. Satan, Spirit, Angels, God

Places

               Desert, Temple in Holy City (or Jerusalem), On top of Mountain

We discussed:

1. The story. The message what have to communicate. What they liked about it. What they didn't like.  How we should start and end. The introduction was discussed and one of the most important things is prayer. This was all done as preparation for the practice.

2. The audience: It is very important to have in mind to who you tell the story. You should use a different way to tell it, when it are adult, or youth, or children. It was also told to keep in mind, if the group is used to the Bible, used to certain groups or have never heard about it.

There are also groups, special in the Naro culture who became Christians, but still keep their traditional faith too.

3. Preaching: It is important to avoid preaching. We discussed this issue.

4. Way forward

We came up with a structure for the Stories.

Group story tellers collecting stories about a certain theme

    Practise the stories

      Supervision of Marea Camm by cellphone and visit

         2nd workshop recording stories

            Checking by consultant

               Final recording

The group got a pamphlet where the following had to be done.

Apply what they have learned

Every day tell someone a story of the Bible

Weekly come together and tell your experience

Monthly prepare at least one new story, write it down.

Make one Bible song.

Start a story club.

Leaders have monthly meeting with the supervisor Marea Camm.

Conclusion

This workshop was well attendant and the participants were serious. They liked it, the saw the need and were really promising. We think that the group needs supervision, especial when they are far from each other. Therefore we are glad with Marea Camm, leading the group. The Naro group is privileged, has a New Testament and in audio form as well. We hope that this workshop will add and bring awareness of God, gives repentance and may expend His kingdom.

Recommendations and Follow up

1. Supervision, between this workshop and the next one is very important.
2. Prepare a plan for the Supervisor.
3. Supervisor and facilitator should keep update each other.

Report prepared by Coby Visser, D'kar 02-08-2013

Send us your comments or questions