{"id":9083,"date":"2026-04-20T14:33:56","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T12:33:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/?p=9083"},"modified":"2026-05-12T14:22:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T12:22:14","slug":"report-on-ifas-research-mission-in-botswana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/uncategorized\/report-on-ifas-research-mission-in-botswana\/","title":{"rendered":"Retour de mission de l\u2019IFAS-Recherche au Botswana | Report on IFAS-Research mission in Botswana"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Du 16 au 24 mars, la directrice de l\u2019IFAS-Recherche, Annael Le Poullennec, et la charg\u00e9e de projets et de la communication de l\u2019IFAS-Recherche, L\u00e9a Jobard, ont effectu\u00e9 une mission au Botswana <\/strong>pour rencontrer l\u2019Ambassade de France et l\u2019Alliance Fran\u00e7aise de Gaborone, et des acteurs de la recherche, tels que le Mus\u00e9e National du Botswana, la Facult\u00e9 des Sciences Humaines et le San Research Centre<\/em> de l\u2019Universit\u00e9 du Botswana. La mission visait \u00e9galement \u00e0 visiter le chantier arch\u00e9ologique de Laurent Bruxelles (IFAS-Recherche, CNRS) dans les grottes de Gcwihaba pr\u00e8s de la fronti\u00e8re namibienne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the 16th<\/sup> to the 24th<\/sup> of March, the director of IFAS-Research, Dr Annael le Poullennec, and the project and communications officer of IFAS-Research, Dr L\u00e9a Jobard, went on a mission in Botswana <\/strong>to meet with the French Embassy, the Alliance Fran\u00e7aise in Gaborone and with Social Sciences and Humanities research centres, such as the Botswana National Museum, the Faculty of Humanities and the San Research Centre of the University of Botswana. The purpose of the mission was also to visit the archaeological fieldwork of Laurent Bruxelles (IFAS-Research-CNRS) at the Gcwihaba Caves.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

L\u2019IFAS-Recherche a d\u2019abord rencontr\u00e9 Madame l\u2019Ambassadrice de France au Botswana, Val\u00e9rie Baraban<\/strong>, l\u2019adjointe au chef de poste, Anouchka Crucovskoy, l\u2019attach\u00e9 pour la coop\u00e9ration, J\u00e9r\u00f4me Pennec, la charg\u00e9e de coop\u00e9ration et de communication, Elise Durand, et la stagiaire en communication, Mona Lucas. Lors de cette rencontre, l\u2019IFAS-Recherche a \u00e9voqu\u00e9 ses missions au sein de son mandat r\u00e9gional et les collaborations potentielles entre l\u2019UMIFRE et l\u2019Ambassade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, IFAS-Research met with the Ambassador of France in Botswana, H.E. Mrs Val\u00e9rie Baraban<\/strong>, the Deputy Head of Mission, Mrs Anouchka Crucovskoy, the Cooperation Attach\u00e9, Dr J\u00e9r\u00f4me Pennec, the Cooperation and Communications Officer, Ms Elise Durand, and the communications intern, Mona Lucas. This meeting allowed IFAS-Research to present its missions within its regional mandate and potential collaborations between the UMIFRE and the Embassy.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Dr L\u00e9a Jobard, Dr Annael Le Poullennec and H.E. Mrs Val\u00e9rie Baraban at the Embassy of France in Botswana. \u00a9<\/code> Ambassade France au Botswana<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

La rencontre avec le doyen de la Facult\u00e9 des Sciences Humaines, Prof. Thapelo Otlogetswe, la doyenne adjointe, Prof. Mompoloki Bagwasi, et le directeur du d\u00e9partement d\u2019histoire, Dr. Phenyo Thebe, a abouti \u00e0 la signature d\u2019un accord-cadre entre l\u2019IFAS-Recherche et l\u2019Universit\u00e9 du Botswana<\/strong>, en vue de futurs projets de recherche conjoints dans les domaines des sciences humaines et sociales. A \u00e9t\u00e9 \u00e9galement \u00e9voqu\u00e9 le partenariat du d\u00e9partement d\u2019histoire et d\u2019arch\u00e9ologie avec le projet Homini\u2019Karst port\u00e9 par Laurent Bruxelles, et l\u2019IRN RAHMSA port\u00e9 par M\u00e9lanie Duval, dont le prochain workshop se tiendra au Botswana, pr\u00e8s de Francistown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The meeting with the Dean of Humanities, Prof. Thapelo Otlogetswe, the Deputy Dean of Humanities, Prof. Mompoloki Bagwasi and the Head of the History Department, Dr Phenyo Thebe, led to the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between IFAS-Research and the University of Botswana<\/strong>, establishing a framework for joint research in the social sciences and humanities. During the meeting, participants also discussed the partnership between the History and Archaeology Department and the Homini\u2019Karst project, led by Laurent Bruxelles, as well as the IRN RAHMSA project, led by M\u00e9lanie Duval, which will organise its next workshop in Botswana, next to Francistown.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Dr J\u00e9r\u00f4me Pennec, Dr Phenyo Thebe, Prof. Thapelo Otlogetswe, Dr Annael Le Poullennec and Prof. Mompoloki Bagwasi, at the University of Botswana, after the signature of the MoU. \u00a9<\/code> IFAS-Recherche<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

La direction et l\u2019\u00e9quipe scientifique du Mus\u00e9e National du Botswana<\/strong> \u2013 le directeur adjoint, M. Kabelo Kenneth Mogami, le directeur de la division de l\u2019arch\u00e9ologie et des monuments, M. Phillip Segadika, et les arch\u00e9ologues M. Powell Motsumi et Mme Malebogo Letsepe \u2013 ont \u00e9galement accueilli l\u2019IFAS-Recherche, accompagn\u00e9 par l\u2019Ambassade. L\u2019\u00e9quipe du mus\u00e9e a pr\u00e9sent\u00e9 ses projets en cours, \u00e9voquant notamment la c\u00e9l\u00e9bration des 25 ans du classement UNESCO des Tsodilo Hills. La discussion a ouvert les perspectives en mati\u00e8re de collaborations futures, en particulier en anthropologie et en arch\u00e9ologie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The directorial and curatorial team of the Botswana National Museum<\/strong> \u2013 Deputy Director Mr Kabelo Kenneth Mogami, Chief Director of the Archaeology and Monuments division, Mr Phillip Segadika, Senior Archaeologist Mr Powell Motsumi and Mrs Malebogo Letsepe \u2013 welcomed IFAS-Research along with Embassy representants. The Museum\u2019s team presented its ongoing projects, including the 25th<\/sup> anniversary of UNESCO listing of Tsodilo Hills. The discussion opened perspectives of future collaboration, especially around anthropology and archaeology.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Mrs Malebogo Letsepe, Dr J\u00e9r\u00f4me Pennec, Dr L\u00e9a Jobard, Mr Kabelo Kenneth Mogami, Dr Annael Le Poullennec, Mr Powell Motsumi and Mr Phillip Segadika, at the Botswana National Museum. \u00a9<\/code> IFAS-Recherche<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Le San Research Centre<\/em> de l\u2019Universit\u00e9 du Botswana<\/strong>, repr\u00e9sent\u00e9 par Prof. Maitseo M. Bolaane, Prof. Eureka Baneka Mokibelo et Mr. Leema Anthony Hiri, ont offert \u00e0 l\u2019IFAS-Recherche et aux repr\u00e9sentants de l\u2019Ambassade un aper\u00e7u exhaustif des activit\u00e9s du centre de recherche. Initi\u00e9 dans les ann\u00e9es 1990 puis formalis\u00e9 en 2012 d\u2019apr\u00e8s le constat de la marginalisation persistante des communaut\u00e9s San dans la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 botswanaise, le San Research Centre<\/em> a pour mission \u00e0 la fois de mener des recherches sur la diversit\u00e9 des communaut\u00e9s San \u2013 leurs cultures et langues, les enjeux de justice sociale, le droit foncier, les perspectives d\u2019avenir, etc. \u2013 et d\u2019accompagner des jeunes issu\u00b7es de ces communaut\u00e9s dans leur formation. Le centre offre \u00e9galement des services de consultance aupr\u00e8s d\u2019entreprises priv\u00e9es ou d\u2019agences publiques. Les discussions ont soulign\u00e9 les possibilit\u00e9s de collaborations entre le centre, l\u2019IFAS-Recherche et ses collaborateur\u00b7rices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The San Research Centre at the University of Botswana<\/strong>, represented by Prof. Maitseo Bolaane, Prof. Eureka Baneka Mokibelo and Mr Leema Anthony Hiri offered a compelling window into the Centre’s activities. Initiated in 1990 and formalised in 2012 based on the observation of San communities\u2019 continuous marginalisation in the Botswana society, the San Research Centre aims to both lead research on the diversity of San communities \u2013 their cultures and languages, the issues of social justice, land rights, futures, etc. \u2013 and to support young persons from these communities throughout their education and professional project. The Centre also proposes consulting services for private compagnies and public agencies. The discussions highlighted strong potential for future engagement within IFAS-Research’s broader southern African network.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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 Mr Leema Anthony Hiri, Prof. Eureka Baneka Mokibelo, Dr Annael Le Poullennec, Prof. Maitseo Bolaane, Dr L\u00e9a Jobard and Dr J\u00e9r\u00f4me Pennec, at the University of Botswana. \u00a9<\/code> IFAS-Recherche<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

L\u2019IFAS-Recherche a \u00e9galement visit\u00e9 l\u2019Alliance Fran\u00e7aise de Gaborone<\/strong> en compagnie de sa directrice, Anne-Charlotte Monneret, qui a expos\u00e9 ses activit\u00e9s et partenariats en lien avec des chercheur\u00b7ses et l\u2019Universit\u00e9 du Botswana. \u00a0Enfin, une visite au d\u00e9partement de fran\u00e7ais de l\u2019Universit\u00e9 du Botswana<\/strong>, repr\u00e9sent\u00e9e par son directeur, Dr Kagiso Jacob Sello, a permis de r\u00e9fl\u00e9chir aux suites \u00e0 donner aux travaux amorc\u00e9s en 2019 par les anglicistes des Universit\u00e9s Paris-Diderot et Paris-Nanterre, et les universitaires de l’Universit\u00e9 du Botswana sp\u00e9cialistes des \u00e9tudes francophones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IFAS-Research also visited the Alliance Fran\u00e7aise of Gaborone<\/strong> with its Director, Mrs Anne-Charlotte Monneret, who set out its activities and partnerships with researchers and the University of Botswana. Finally, the visit of the University of Botswana French Department<\/strong>, represented by its Director, Dr Kagiso Jacob Sello, allowed for discussion on the follow-up to the work initiated in 2019 between Anglicists from the Universities Paris-Diderot and Paris-Nanterre and scholars from the University of Botswana specialising in francophone studies.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dr Annael Le Poullennec and Mrs Anne-Charlotte Monneret at the Alliance Fran\u00e7aise in Gaborone.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dr Annael Le Poullennec and Prof. Kagiso Jacob Sello at the University of Botswana.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u00a9<\/code> IFAS-Recherche<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

L\u2019autre partie de la mission de l\u2019IFAS-Recherche \u00e9tait consacr\u00e9e \u00e0 la visite du chantier arch\u00e9ologique de Laurent Bruxelles (CNRS, IFAS-Recherche, et directeur scientifique de l\u2019IRC SHARE, CNRS-Wits) dans les grottes Gcwihaba<\/strong>. Ce chantier s\u2019inscrit dans le cadre du programme international Homini\u2019Karst, soutenu par l\u2019IFAS-Recherche depuis sa cr\u00e9ation en 2021. Rassemblant une douzaine d\u2019\u00e9tudiant\u00b7es et chercheur\u00b7ses en arch\u00e9ologie, anthropologie, pal\u00e9ontologie, g\u00e9ologie et g\u00e9ographie, rattach\u00e9s \u00e0 diverses institutions fran\u00e7aises, botswanaises et d\u2019Afrique australe, le programme vise \u00e0 identifier et analyser de nouveaux gisements fossilif\u00e8res et \u00e0 apporter de nouveaux \u00e9clairages sur les origines de l’humanit\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other part of IFAS-Research\u2019s mission was dedicated to visiting the archaeological fieldwork of Laurent Bruxelles (CNRS, IFAS-Research, and scientific director of the International Research Centre SHARE, CNRS-Wits) at the Gcwihaba Caves.<\/strong> This fieldwork is part of the international programme Homini\u2019Karst, supported by IFAS-Research since its beginning, in 2021. Gathering a dozen of students and researchers in archaeology, palaeontology, geology and geography, from various institutions in France, Botswana and Southern Africa, the programme aims to identify and analyse new fossil-bearing deposits and to bring new elements to understand human origins.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gwcihaba Cave entrance. \u00a9<\/code> IFAS-Recherche<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Apr\u00e8s des campagnes de prospections et de fouilles, la mission de mars 2026 \u00e9tait d\u00e9di\u00e9e \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9tude du pal\u00e9o-environnement<\/strong>, en partenariat avec les g\u00e9ologues Marc Jolivet (CNRS, G\u00e9osciences Rennes), Olivier Dauteuil (Universit\u00e9 de Rennes) et l\u2019Institut de Recherche de l\u2019Okavango. Ceux-ci m\u00e8nent depuis plusieurs ann\u00e9es une \u00e9tude du pal\u00e9oenvironnement du delta de l\u2019Okavango, auquel la formation de la grotte de Gcwihaba est li\u00e9e.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After survey and excavation campaigns, the March 2026 mission was dedicated to studying the palaeo-environement<\/strong>, in partnership with the geologists Dr Marc Jolivet (CNRS, G\u00e9osciences Rennes), Prof. Olivier Dauteuil (University of Rennes) and the Okavango Research Institute. Indeed, the latter are leading a study of the Okavango Delta palaeo-environement, to which the Gcwihaba Caves formation is linked.  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

L\u2019objectif scientifique principal de la mission \u00e9tait de collecter des carottages de guano de chauve-souris dans les grottes de la r\u00e9gion<\/strong>, y compris la grotte de Gcwihaba. Tshwanelo Gkagosana<\/strong>, de l\u2019Universit\u00e9 du Witwatersrand, \u00e9tudiera pour sa th\u00e8se les pollens pr\u00e9sents dans chacune des strates de guano, accumul\u00e9es sur plusieurs dizaines de millier d\u2019ann\u00e9es, afin de reconstituer l\u2019environnement pass\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main scientific objective of the mission was to collect bat guano coring in several caves of the region<\/strong>, including Gcwihaba Caves. Ms Tshwanelo Gkagosana<\/strong>, PhD student at the University of the Witwatersrand, will study the pollens present in each guano stratum, accumulated over several thousands of years, in order to reconstruct the past environment of the region.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ms Tshwanelo Gkagosana documenting bat guano coring in Blue Cave. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Bat guano coring under the camera.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u00a9<\/code> IFAS-Recherche<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Par ailleurs, douze \u00e9tudiant\u00b7es de l\u2019Universit\u00e9 du Botswana<\/strong>, sous la direction de Dr Cynthia Mooketsi (D\u00e9partement d\u2019Histoire, Universit\u00e9 du Botswana), ont suivi une formation \u00e0 la sp\u00e9l\u00e9ologie et \u00e0 la g\u00e9ologie et assist\u00e9 aux pr\u00e9sentations des travaux scientifiques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, twelve students from the University of Botswana<\/strong>, supervised by Dr Cynthia Mooketsi (University of Botswana), were trained in speleology and geology and were presented the research topics of the programme\u2019s lead scientists.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Students from the University of Botswana, supervised by Cynthia Mooketsi, with PhD students One Claeys and Tshwanelo Gkagosana. \u00a9<\/code> IFAS-Recherche<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Enfin, l’\u00e9quipe de tournage d\u2019un documentaire<\/strong> pour la cha\u00eene France 5 accompagnait la mission. Le documentaire, pr\u00e9vu pour 2027, sera d\u00e9di\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u2019environnement de l\u2019Okavango et \u00e0 son processus de formation, auquel les grottes de Gcwihaba sont li\u00e9es.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, a documentary film crew <\/strong>followed the researchers during the mission. The documentary, planned to air on France 5 in 2027, will focus on the Okavango environment, including Gcwihaba Caves, and how it was formed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The documentary frilm crew.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The research, filming and IFAS-Research teams sharing a meal at the camp.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u00a9<\/code> IFAS-Recherche<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Du 16 au 24 mars, la directrice de l\u2019IFAS-Recherche, Annael Le Poullennec, et la charg\u00e9e de projets et de la communication de l\u2019IFAS-Recherche, L\u00e9a Jobard, ont effectu\u00e9 une mission au Botswana pour rencontrer l\u2019Ambassade de France et l\u2019Alliance Fran\u00e7aise de Gaborone, et des acteurs de la recherche, tels que le Mus\u00e9e National du Botswana, la […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":9104,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,21,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-news","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9083"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9083\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9206,"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9083\/revisions\/9206"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}