The story of the makgabe could have ended as a relic of the past, relegated to museums. But instead, it is experiencing a powerful revival. The garment has been embraced by contemporary designers and cultural ambassadors, who are weaving it back into the fabric of modern Botswana.

: The garment represents more than just clothing; it is a symbol of beauty, maturity, and cultural identity. Brighton & Hove Museums The Story: "Grandmother and the Smelly Girl"

Today, the "story" of the makgabe has moved from the village square to the global runway and high-end interior design.

The garment's design also symbolized modesty and cultural identity. The fringe design, while covering the lower body, also allowed for movement and was not considered immodest within its cultural context. Its presence as a garment for young girls walking to streams or dancing at celebrations points to a world where cultural norms were understood and respected through attire.

While some older generations recall the makgabe as common daily wear for young girls in rural settings, its role today is primarily ceremonial and symbolic, representing a "living story" where tradition dances with modernity. initiation ceremonies Further Exploration Learn about the cultural significance of the makgabe from

When Tasneem returns home "smelly," her grandmother does not reject her. Instead, she provides the support needed for Tasneem to find acceptance and regain her dignity. The story serves as a cautionary tale: jealousy only leads to harm, while cultural symbols (the makgabe ) and family bonds (the grandmother) provide ultimate protection. Cultural Significance of the Makgabe

While the makgabe was once limited to specific cultural ceremonies, it has recently experienced a major resurgence in Botswana and neighboring regions. Modern Tswana fashion designers have embraced the makgabe fabric, incorporating it into contemporary clothing.

Interestingly, the word “Makgabe” has also become a in some Southern African communities. As a surname, Makgabe carries cultural and familial importance that transcends any literal meaning, linked to “lineage and the heritage of a person” and serving as “a symbol of a family’s history and tradition”. This usage reflects the deep integration of the concept of adornment and identity into the social fabric of Southern Africa. A family that bears the name Makgabe may not remember the specific origin of the name, but it carries with it echoes of the same values—beauty, identity, tradition—that the garment represents.

To understand the story of the makgabe, one must understand the traditional Tswana lifecycle and the way clothing signalled a girl’s transition from childhood to adolescence to full womanhood. In traditional Tswana society, a girl began wearing a makgabe from an early age. As explained: “Back in the days they would wear this up until they are older, like young women with their fully developed breasts”.

While the makgabe was once a staple of daily traditional life, it has undergone a significant contemporary renaissance.

At its heart, the story of the makgabe is a human story. It is the story of girls becoming women, of communities celebrating life through dance and adornment, of elders passing knowledge to the young, of colonisers collecting and cataloguing even as they sought to transform, of descendants reclaiming and reimagining what was nearly lost, and of a garment that has endured for centuries, adapting to new circumstances while retaining its essential character.

In Setswana culture, makgabe refers to a traditional tasseled skirt or "sacred covering" historically worn by young women.