Into Africa Picnic Festival returns
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Tuesday April 8, 2025 06:00
The event will be held at the Flamboyant Gardens in Thamaga on April 20, 2025. According to one of the event coordinators, Thuso Mohurutshe, the highly anticipated event promises a celebration of music, culture, and community. Hosted by The Dawn Sessions King, he said the festival would take place at the scenic Flamboyant Gardens, located on the outskirts of Thamaga along the Thamaga-Moshupa Road, on the Sunday before Easter Monday. He added that the biannual festival, held during the Easter holidays and festive season, was founded with a vision to elevate Thamaga’s entertainment industry while boosting the local economy. “The festival provides opportunities for local businesses to thrive, from food and clothing vendors to guest houses and hotels that accommodate festival attendees from all over.
Moreover, it fosters a unique cultural exchange between visitors and Thamaga residents while also tackling youth unemployment by creating temporary jobs for service providers,” he said. He also stated that they will have a star-studded line-up, explaining that the festival embraces diversity in music, catering for people of all ages and musical tastes. Furthermore, he explained that the Easter edition was headlined by renowned South African gospel icon, Sechaba, known for soul-stirring hits such as Eloyi, Kante Jeso, Lona Baratang, and Abanomona. Supporting him will be a dynamic line-up of Botswana’s finest artists, including ATI, famed with his songs Stimamollo, Khiring khorong, Komiriso to name but a few, famous for his electrifying stage presence; Chokoma who is the new kid on the block known for his sensational Badimo hit; Motlha who is the voice behind Mma Motse hit song, Lerofo whilst the famous dance crew, The Choreographers are expected to bring mesmerising dance moves to the event. Skiddopantsotsi1925 and Fredmane are also set to hype up the crowd. He also stated that the DJ line-up is equally impressive, featuring DJ Slym, Lebgee & Beetee 4071, who are social media favourites, DJ Verlaty, Romeo Tha Medley, Tumi Soulful, and DJ Linx.
Furthermore, he explained that homegrown talents are set to keep the energy high, supporting local businesses and ensuring safety. “To empower local entrepreneurs, festival stalls have been offered at a subsidised rate of P300, ensuring micro-businesses can benefit from the event. Patrons are welcome to bring their beverages, making it a truly picnic-style celebration. Security remains a top priority, with a team of 20 bouncers and 20 security guards managing crowd control, car guarding, and overall safety to ensure a seamless experience for all attendees, he said. Moreover, he said that despite the event’s success, securing sponsorships remains a major challenge. He said that as organizers, they faced difficulties in getting an audience with potential sponsors, yet they remained hopeful that the right partnership would help take the festival to greater heights. Nonetheless, with or without sponsorship, he said the Into Africa Picnic Festival is committed to delivering a top-tier experience. He urged attendees to adhere to the event’s rules and regulations, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.