I’m going to ask you a question what comes to your mind when one mentions the
comes to your mind when one mentions the
comes to your mind when one mentions the word death quite often this way the
word death quite often this way the
word death quite often this way the invokes feelings of sadness grief and
invokes feelings of sadness grief and
invokes feelings of sadness grief and misery I’ve seen people develop
misery I’ve seen people develop
misery I’ve seen people develop goosebumps
goosebumps
goosebumps some would clench their jaws together
some would clench their jaws together
some would clench their jaws together some even get edgy and are traumatized
some even get edgy and are traumatized
some even get edgy and are traumatized by the death of someone take the person
by the death of someone take the person
by the death of someone take the person sitting next to you for example you are
sitting next to you for example you are
sitting next to you for example you are friends or you just met here and started
friends or you just met here and started
friends or you just met here and started talking to each other you are laughing
talking to each other you are laughing
talking to each other you are laughing together and friendly with one another
together and friendly with one another
together and friendly with one another what would happen if the same person
what would happen if the same person
what would happen if the same person sitting next to you drops dead
within seconds you would move from these
within seconds you would move from these feelings of affection to being afraid of
feelings of affection to being afraid of
feelings of affection to being afraid of the specimen you didn’t even want to
the specimen you didn’t even want to
the specimen you didn’t even want to look at that person let alone touchy
look at that person let alone touchy
look at that person let alone touchy more hair why my hope is that after
more hair why my hope is that after
more hair why my hope is that after today you will not feel the same way
today you will not feel the same way
today you will not feel the same way death should not induce this
death should not induce this
death should not induce this gut-wrenching fear or bring sadness to
gut-wrenching fear or bring sadness to
gut-wrenching fear or bring sadness to anyone I actually think that death
anyone I actually think that death
anyone I actually think that death should be embraced and celebrated yes
should be embraced and celebrated yes
should be embraced and celebrated yes embraced and celebrated my perception
embraced and celebrated my perception
embraced and celebrated my perception and attitude to death is obviously
and attitude to death is obviously
and attitude to death is obviously linked to my personal experiences so let
linked to my personal experiences so let
linked to my personal experiences so let me share with you my background I
me share with you my background I
me share with you my background I trained as a medical doctor basically
trained as a medical doctor basically
trained as a medical doctor basically like any other doctor I wanted to take
like any other doctor I wanted to take
like any other doctor I wanted to take care of patients treat diseases as well
care of patients treat diseases as well
care of patients treat diseases as well as to relieve pain and suffering I then
as to relieve pain and suffering I then
as to relieve pain and suffering I then specialized in the area of pathology
specialized in the area of pathology
specialized in the area of pathology that is the study of disease etiology
that is the study of disease etiology
that is the study of disease etiology what causes these diseases how they are
what causes these diseases how they are
what causes these diseases how they are transmitted and how they may lead to
transmitted and how they may lead to
transmitted and how they may lead to death I sub specialized in the area of
death I sub specialized in the area of
death I sub specialized in the area of forensic pathology that is the
forensic pathology that is the
forensic pathology that is the application of medicine and pathology
application of medicine and pathology
application of medicine and pathology for the needs of the criminal justice
for the needs of the criminal justice
for the needs of the criminal justice system as you know quite often death is
system as you know quite often death is
system as you know quite often death is as a result of unnatural causes like
as a result of unnatural causes like
as a result of unnatural causes like physical harm and violence at the same
physical harm and violence at the same
physical harm and violence at the same time being a doctor I am an African in
time being a doctor I am an African in
time being a doctor I am an African in African medical doctor I work as a death
African medical doctor I work as a death
African medical doctor I work as a death investigator in an African environment
investigator in an African environment
investigator in an African environment and you know death investigation from a
and you know death investigation from a
and you know death investigation from a forensic perspective in an African
forensic perspective in an African
forensic perspective in an African setting has forced me to reconcile
setting has forced me to reconcile
setting has forced me to reconcile science with my African beliefs this has
science with my African beliefs this has
science with my African beliefs this has been very phenomenal and unique like any
been very phenomenal and unique like any
been very phenomenal and unique like any other community we Africans view death
other community we Africans view death
other community we Africans view death according to our socio-cultural beliefs
according to our socio-cultural beliefs
according to our socio-cultural beliefs one belief system shapes how they view
one belief system shapes how they view
one belief system shapes how they view death and can make a person develop
death and can make a person develop
death and can make a person develop either positive or negative attitude to
either positive or negative attitude to
either positive or negative attitude to death and these are not easy to shake
death and these are not easy to shake
death and these are not easy to shake off here in Botswana we subscribe to a
off here in Botswana we subscribe to a
off here in Botswana we subscribe to a culture root
culture root
culture root had an ancestral belief system and
had an ancestral belief system and
had an ancestral belief system and shaped by judeo-christian concepts we
shaped by judeo-christian concepts we
shaped by judeo-christian concepts we typically believe in the afterlife that
typically believe in the afterlife that
typically believe in the afterlife that our body is only a vessel that remains
our body is only a vessel that remains
our body is only a vessel that remains empty after death
empty after death
empty after death we do however attach significance to
we do however attach significance to
we do however attach significance to this vessel because of the soul
this vessel because of the soul
this vessel because of the soul contained in it is somehow believed that
contained in it is somehow believed that
contained in it is somehow believed that this soul hovers around the body and
this soul hovers around the body and
this soul hovers around the body and continues to live even after death we
continues to live even after death we
continues to live even after death we therefore view bodies not just as bodies
therefore view bodies not just as bodies
therefore view bodies not just as bodies but perhaps as vessels surrounded by
but perhaps as vessels surrounded by
but perhaps as vessels surrounded by this spiritual aura that we cannot
this spiritual aura that we cannot
this spiritual aura that we cannot explain best therefore that mysticism
explain best therefore that mysticism
explain best therefore that mysticism surround in death and unfortunately we
surround in death and unfortunately we
surround in death and unfortunately we happen to focus on those explanations
happen to focus on those explanations
happen to focus on those explanations that induces fear and pain I personally
that induces fear and pain I personally
that induces fear and pain I personally come from Tulane a small village in the
come from Tulane a small village in the
come from Tulane a small village in the outskirts of the capital city harbour
outskirts of the capital city harbour
outskirts of the capital city harbour Oni where we bury our deceased presence
Oni where we bury our deceased presence
Oni where we bury our deceased presence within our residential areas and
within our residential areas and
within our residential areas and children often under the floors of our
children often under the floors of our
children often under the floors of our houses as backrub a tribe we feel if we
houses as backrub a tribe we feel if we
houses as backrub a tribe we feel if we use outside symmetries we are actually
use outside symmetries we are actually
use outside symmetries we are actually neglecting or throwing away our deceased
neglecting or throwing away our deceased
neglecting or throwing away our deceased presence like any other tribes in putana
presence like any other tribes in putana
presence like any other tribes in putana we handled the deceased with reverence
we handled the deceased with reverence
we handled the deceased with reverence and kay we spent days mourning the
and kay we spent days mourning the
and kay we spent days mourning the deceased persons sometimes more than a
deceased persons sometimes more than a
deceased persons sometimes more than a week and this is obviously the influence
week and this is obviously the influence
week and this is obviously the influence from our ancestral belief system so you
from our ancestral belief system so you
from our ancestral belief system so you see our culture and way of thinking
see our culture and way of thinking
see our culture and way of thinking encourages us to find elaborate and
encourages us to find elaborate and
encourages us to find elaborate and sinister motives associated with death
sinister motives associated with death
sinister motives associated with death someone cannot just die from a heart
someone cannot just die from a heart
someone cannot just die from a heart attack
attack
attack without finding some peculiar
without finding some peculiar
without finding some peculiar explanations associated with the death
explanations associated with the death
explanations associated with the death people die especially at gatherings are
people die especially at gatherings are
people die especially at gatherings are commonly said to have been a poisoned
commonly said to have been a poisoned
commonly said to have been a poisoned unfortunately this belief system robs us
unfortunately this belief system robs us
unfortunately this belief system robs us of ability to see death from a positive
of ability to see death from a positive
of ability to see death from a positive point of view from a medical standpoint
point of view from a medical standpoint
point of view from a medical standpoint a person is an organism that has
a person is an organism that has
a person is an organism that has physiology
physiology
physiology that manifest is what you call life each
that manifest is what you call life each
that manifest is what you call life each person is made up of and controlled by
person is made up of and controlled by
person is made up of and controlled by systems for example we have the
systems for example we have the
systems for example we have the cardiovascular system which is the heart
cardiovascular system which is the heart
cardiovascular system which is the heart and related structures the respiratory
and related structures the respiratory
and related structures the respiratory system which is the lance and the entire
system which is the lance and the entire
system which is the lance and the entire breathing apparatus the neurological
breathing apparatus the neurological
breathing apparatus the neurological system which is the thinking and sensory
system which is the thinking and sensory
system which is the thinking and sensory mechanism made up of the brain spinal
mechanism made up of the brain spinal
mechanism made up of the brain spinal cord and nerves death is what happens
cord and nerves death is what happens
cord and nerves death is what happens when this system shuts down in ceases to
when this system shuts down in ceases to
when this system shuts down in ceases to function and after ever any living thing
function and after ever any living thing
function and after ever any living thing dies it goes back to the ground and
dies it goes back to the ground and
dies it goes back to the ground and becomes organic matter so tell me if if
becomes organic matter so tell me if if
becomes organic matter so tell me if if if a person is for example crushed by a
if a person is for example crushed by a
if a person is for example crushed by a fast-moving car isn’t it like a mosquito
fast-moving car isn’t it like a mosquito
fast-moving car isn’t it like a mosquito being smashed by someone’s hand
you you you must be wondering how can
you you you must be wondering how can this guy compare the death of a person
this guy compare the death of a person
this guy compare the death of a person to that of a mosquito my experience has
to that of a mosquito my experience has
to that of a mosquito my experience has taught me that a dead body is really a
taught me that a dead body is really a
taught me that a dead body is really a caucus that the deceased person has left
caucus that the deceased person has left
caucus that the deceased person has left behind on earth for us to study the so
behind on earth for us to study the so
behind on earth for us to study the so and so we know it’s no more of course
and so we know it’s no more of course
and so we know it’s no more of course you may say gone or going depending on
you may say gone or going depending on
you may say gone or going depending on your belief system but the fact is that
your belief system but the fact is that
your belief system but the fact is that they are no more what we see is just a
they are no more what we see is just a
they are no more what we see is just a bag of bones and meat that we can study
[Applause]
[Applause] you know I’ve come to view the deceased
you know I’ve come to view the deceased
you know I’ve come to view the deceased body as their gift to humanity it
body as their gift to humanity it
body as their gift to humanity it affords us opportunity to study their
affords us opportunity to study their
affords us opportunity to study their causes of death thereby delaying or
causes of death thereby delaying or
causes of death thereby delaying or preventing the death of those who are
preventing the death of those who are
preventing the death of those who are still alive
still alive
still alive a dead body it’s a sacrifice to humanity
a dead body it’s a sacrifice to humanity
a dead body it’s a sacrifice to humanity and you know this altruistic behavior
and you know this altruistic behavior
and you know this altruistic behavior it’s also seen in other animals for
it’s also seen in other animals for
it’s also seen in other animals for example a bee will attack and sting if
example a bee will attack and sting if
example a bee will attack and sting if it senses intrusion to its nest even
it senses intrusion to its nest even
it senses intrusion to its nest even though it knows that its stingers will
though it knows that its stingers will
though it knows that its stingers will be detached from the abdomen therefore
be detached from the abdomen therefore
be detached from the abdomen therefore dying in the process but it also knows
dying in the process but it also knows
dying in the process but it also knows that the enemy will run away and live
that the enemy will run away and live
that the enemy will run away and live the rest of the colony
the rest of the colony
the rest of the colony to propagate it progeny let me share
to propagate it progeny let me share
to propagate it progeny let me share with you some of the cases of come
with you some of the cases of come
with you some of the cases of come across in order to prove my assertion
across in order to prove my assertion
across in order to prove my assertion that death can be a gift to humanity a
that death can be a gift to humanity a
that death can be a gift to humanity a family was experiencing the death of
family was experiencing the death of
family was experiencing the death of their children before they reached 11
their children before they reached 11
their children before they reached 11 years of age in fact three children died
years of age in fact three children died
years of age in fact three children died the third child died at the age of six
the third child died at the age of six
the third child died at the age of six years an autopsy and genetic tests
years an autopsy and genetic tests
years an autopsy and genetic tests revealed that this child died from an
revealed that this child died from an
revealed that this child died from an inherited electrical disorder of the
inherited electrical disorder of the
inherited electrical disorder of the heart this information ensured that two
heart this information ensured that two
heart this information ensured that two other children who is still alive were
other children who is still alive were
other children who is still alive were referred to a cardiologist or heart
referred to a cardiologist or heart
referred to a cardiologist or heart specialist and were ultimately put on
specialist and were ultimately put on
specialist and were ultimately put on medication to prevent death from this
medication to prevent death from this
medication to prevent death from this inherited heart condition so you see the
inherited heart condition so you see the
inherited heart condition so you see the death of this particular six-year-old
death of this particular six-year-old
death of this particular six-year-old child was a blessing too to others who
child was a blessing too to others who
child was a blessing too to others who continued to live even up to today
their parents were also relieved that
their parents were also relieved that the other children did not die from some
the other children did not die from some
the other children did not die from some sort of witchcraft or to a non magic or
sort of witchcraft or to a non magic or
sort of witchcraft or to a non magic or voodoo so this is how this death was a
voodoo so this is how this death was a
voodoo so this is how this death was a gift to everyone else
gift to everyone else
gift to everyone else second case three people including a
second case three people including a
second case three people including a pasta diet while conducting a baptismal
pasta diet while conducting a baptismal
pasta diet while conducting a baptismal service in Columbia River 40 kilometers
service in Columbia River 40 kilometers
service in Columbia River 40 kilometers southwest of Harbor oniy the popular
southwest of Harbor oniy the popular
southwest of Harbor oniy the popular belief among the community was that
belief among the community was that
belief among the community was that there was a big snake or anaconda like
there was a big snake or anaconda like
there was a big snake or anaconda like creature commonly referred to españa
creature commonly referred to españa
creature commonly referred to españa but that lives in the river
but that lives in the river
but that lives in the river apparently the snake would occasionally
apparently the snake would occasionally
apparently the snake would occasionally take people who swim in that part of the
take people who swim in that part of the
take people who swim in that part of the river after an intensive investigation
river after an intensive investigation
river after an intensive investigation it was apparent that the cause of death
it was apparent that the cause of death
it was apparent that the cause of death was just drowning that they died they
was just drowning that they died they
was just drowning that they died they drowned in deeper medea waters and
drowned in deeper medea waters and
drowned in deeper medea waters and imagine none of the people who are
imagine none of the people who are
imagine none of the people who are present there could rescue them because
present there could rescue them because
present there could rescue them because they couldn’t swim as well so this
they couldn’t swim as well so this
they couldn’t swim as well so this invaluable information would in future
invaluable information would in future
invaluable information would in future be used by the authorities to ensure
be used by the authorities to ensure
be used by the authorities to ensure that anybody conducting a religious
that anybody conducting a religious
that anybody conducting a religious ceremony in this river would be
ceremony in this river would be
ceremony in this river would be accompanied by trained swimmers so the
accompanied by trained swimmers so the
accompanied by trained swimmers so the death of this stream was a blessing to
death of this stream was a blessing to
death of this stream was a blessing to the entire community
the entire community
the entire community [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] my third case while excavating a caved
my third case while excavating a caved
my third case while excavating a caved water point or borehole a person
water point or borehole a person
water point or borehole a person disappeared the second person who
disappeared the second person who
disappeared the second person who followed to check on this first also did
followed to check on this first also did
followed to check on this first also did not resurface everybody abandoned the
not resurface everybody abandoned the
not resurface everybody abandoned the boho and and nobody wanted to go nyet
boho and and nobody wanted to go nyet
boho and and nobody wanted to go nyet because surely there must have been
because surely there must have been
because surely there must have been something taking these people guess that
something taking these people guess that
something taking these people guess that what is the infamous anaconda after risk
what is the infamous anaconda after risk
what is the infamous anaconda after risk was ultimately retrieved the body’s
was ultimately retrieved the body’s
was ultimately retrieved the body’s postmortem examination showed that they
postmortem examination showed that they
postmortem examination showed that they died from carbon monoxide poisoning that
died from carbon monoxide poisoning that
died from carbon monoxide poisoning that was from a fluid generator that we are
was from a fluid generator that we are
was from a fluid generator that we are using to light up inside the cave there
using to light up inside the cave there
using to light up inside the cave there was a relief to the community a borehole
was a relief to the community a borehole
was a relief to the community a borehole that would have been abandoned for
that would have been abandoned for
that would have been abandoned for generations to come and probably also
generations to come and probably also
generations to come and probably also associated with this myth was she
associated with this myth was she
associated with this myth was she ultimately used for the betterment of
ultimately used for the betterment of
ultimately used for the betterment of the community a detainee who commits
the community a detainee who commits
the community a detainee who commits suicide in custody in short that holding
suicide in custody in short that holding
suicide in custody in short that holding cells are constructed such that they do
cells are constructed such that they do
cells are constructed such that they do not have points where others can hand
not have points where others can hand
not have points where others can hand themselves or that idea to buy a blanket
themselves or that idea to buy a blanket
themselves or that idea to buy a blanket without seams where put forward you can
without seams where put forward you can
without seams where put forward you can imagine somebody committing suicide
imagine somebody committing suicide
imagine somebody committing suicide maybe just sending a message that my
maybe just sending a message that my
maybe just sending a message that my workplace is horrible
workplace is horrible
workplace is horrible so please do something about it
so please do something about it
so please do something about it Oh or perhaps or perhaps my partner is
Oh or perhaps or perhaps my partner is
Oh or perhaps or perhaps my partner is abusive so lady stay away from this man
criminals who could have perpetuated
criminals who could have perpetuated more violence and deaths are put behind
more violence and deaths are put behind
more violence and deaths are put behind bars because of the death of one
bars because of the death of one
bars because of the death of one particular person you may be aware that
particular person you may be aware that
particular person you may be aware that the life expectancy of the world today
the life expectancy of the world today
the life expectancy of the world today it’s above 70 years compared to 1960
it’s above 70 years compared to 1960
it’s above 70 years compared to 1960 when it was hovering around 57 years
when it was hovering around 57 years
when it was hovering around 57 years whether this is due to advanced medical
whether this is due to advanced medical
whether this is due to advanced medical technology better disease management or
technology better disease management or
technology better disease management or new techniques like stem cell theory
new techniques like stem cell theory
new techniques like stem cell theory what we know is that it is because of
what we know is that it is because of
what we know is that it is because of the death of other fellow human beings
the death of other fellow human beings
the death of other fellow human beings that we are able to learn from their
that we are able to learn from their
that we are able to learn from their bodies thereby preventing the death of
bodies thereby preventing the death of
bodies thereby preventing the death of those who are alive so my friends my
those who are alive so my friends my
those who are alive so my friends my role as a forensic pathologist is to use
role as a forensic pathologist is to use
role as a forensic pathologist is to use evidence left by death to bring peace to
evidence left by death to bring peace to
evidence left by death to bring peace to those who survive
for example we are able to reassure
for example we are able to reassure people that they are not being bewitched
we do however push science and facts
we do however push science and facts above all else in order to combat the
above all else in order to combat the
above all else in order to combat the hysteria and paranoia commonly
hysteria and paranoia commonly
hysteria and paranoia commonly associated with deaths we also try to
associated with deaths we also try to
associated with deaths we also try to understand people’s background and to
understand people’s background and to
understand people’s background and to see why they may view death in a certain
see why they may view death in a certain
see why they may view death in a certain manner death is painful nobody can deny
manner death is painful nobody can deny
manner death is painful nobody can deny that losing someone close to you it’s
that losing someone close to you it’s
that losing someone close to you it’s saddening the whole that they dead
saddening the whole that they dead
saddening the whole that they dead person lives it’s very difficult to feel
person lives it’s very difficult to feel
person lives it’s very difficult to feel so while shedding tears when a loved one
so while shedding tears when a loved one
so while shedding tears when a loved one died and it is okay to do that pause for
died and it is okay to do that pause for
died and it is okay to do that pause for a moment and try to understand what you
a moment and try to understand what you
a moment and try to understand what you can learn from their death people teach
can learn from their death people teach
can learn from their death people teach us so many things when their life but
us so many things when their life but
us so many things when their life but also when they die they give us their
also when they die they give us their
also when they die they give us their dead body to learn from so my friends
dead body to learn from so my friends
dead body to learn from so my friends let us try to embrace death because a
let us try to embrace death because a
let us try to embrace death because a dead body is the deceased gift to the
dead body is the deceased gift to the
dead body is the deceased gift to the living thank you
living thank you
living thank you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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