Depressive symptomatology, loneliness and hopelessness are dominant issues among elderly Africans. Yet, it is commonly assumed, and, perhaps, agreed that the elderly African should physically and socially remain active and continue to be the custodian of the people's traditional norms and values reflective of the traditional social transfers for which African culture is known. Exploring ethnographic data from the extant literature, this study attempts to understand the possible relationship between social engagement (based mainly on social activity) and the functional capacity of the Kgotla. Kgotla is a traditional court made up of community council chief and elders who meet at the public square to reach a consensus on public issues. It originates from Botswana. The data reveal that the informal adult learning functional activities that is dominant in the Kgotla, considerably help in social engagement among the elderly Tswana-speaking Africans. It was found that social activity is significantly enhanced by the elderly Africans' participation in kgotla meetings; and, that the degree of satisfaction with the mitigating role of this medium may be differentiated somewhat because elderly males seem to dominate discussions and activities taking place at the Kgotla. However, it was also true that the functionality of the Kgotla tend to lower the degree of loneliness and hopelessness for all the participants. Based on these findings, it was recommended that the African Kgtotla should be further enhanced as acceptable informal adult learning cultural institution for cognitively stimulating and socially integrating social engagement activities that could promote the psycho-social well-being of elderly Africans. [For the full proceedings, see ED613257.]