Dithubaruba 2025: Where heritage came alive In Molepolole

Archie Mokoka | Wednesday September 10, 2025 06:00

It roared in like a lion at dawn, transforming the sacred Ntsweng Heritage Site, better known as Kwa ga Mmakgosi, into a pulsating, drum-thumping, foot-stomping, soul-stirring carnival of Bakwena pride. The Kweneng capital was a beehive on steroids. Streets jammed. Dust flying. Laughter echoing as culture was not just observed but lived, breathed, and danced into the dirt until sunrise.

Under the rallying cry “Ngwao ya rona e a Tshela” — Heritage in Motion, thousands from across Botswana and beyond descended on Molepolole like pilgrims to the motherland of Setswana soul.

The Kwena heritage came to life. Poetry that punched. Dance that dared you not to move. Storytelling so vivid, you could taste the sorghum beer.

Opening the event, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Wynter Mmolotsi offered words that resonated deeply with the crowd.

“This is a profound reminder that our culture is not a static artifact,” he said.



“It is a living force. It breathes through our language, our rituals, our music, and our values. It moves through generations, adapting to new realities while anchoring us in identity and purpose.”

Mmolotsi reminded culture enthusiasts that culture isn’t something to be locked away, but something to be lived, shared, and invested in.

“As Minister, I embrace this theme as a strategic imperative. It calls on us to entrench culture into the very fabric of our national development. It challenges us to ensure that heritage is not only preserved, but activated, celebrated, and invested in,” he added.

About the transformation of the Ntsweng Heritage Site, he said in partnership with the Kgosi Sechele I Museum, the Ministry has invested over P60 million to turn this sacred ground into a permanent cultural precinct, a first of its kind in Kweneng District.

“We gather today on sacred ground, the Ntsweng Heritage Site. This space is more than historical, it is aspirational. It represents what is possible when we place heritage at the heart of sustainable tourism and community development,” he said.

Final touches are underway: exhibitions are being installed, landscaping completed, systems tested, and sensitive ancestral remains respectfully reburied.

Soon, the new museum will open its doors, not just as a place to look back, but as a hub for education, employment, tourism, and celebration.

“Let us be clear: this is not just infrastructure. It is a platform for empowerment. It is a space where tradition meets innovation, where memory fuels opportunity,” he further stated.

The Minister took time to commend the Kgosi Sechele I Museum Trust and the Dithubaruba Organising Committee for their tireless work of turning culture into a catalyst for growth.

“You have shown that culture is not merely celebrated — it is mobilised. From the Heritage Walk to the symposium, to the business summit, you have demonstrated that heritage is a driver of economic transformation,” he stated.

Mmolotsi spoke passionately about Botswana’s creative talent — musicians, dancers, poets, visual artists, filmmakers — and urged everyone to see them not as hobbyists, but as professionals powering a growing industry.

“These are not side pursuits. They are industries. They are expressions of identity. They are vehicles for wealth creation,” he stated.

“Culture is the bedrock of nationhood. It teaches us self-respect, unity, and stewardship. I urge our traditional leaders and elders to continue transmitting values that promote family cohesion, environmental conservation, and national pride.”

With the minister’s words still hanging in the air, the stage came alive.



When Dr Vom stepped up in the early hours of the night, and launched into his timeless anthem “Tsaya Thobane,” the crowd rose as one. Grandparents swayed. Children bounced.

Even the security guards found themselves tapping their feet while gently holding back eager dancers from spilling onto the stage. The energy never dipped.

Acts like Ditiro Leero, Culture Spears, Dikakapa, Matsieng and Scavenger amongst others kept the spirit high, blending tradition with fresh sounds.