Theatrical Chiwele to shine at Cradle of Creativity fest
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Monday December 8, 2025 06:00
The festival, themed 'Jumping Over the Kraal/ Uri-! gâu ! harasa', celebrates ingenuity and resilience in commemorating the 1976 Soweto Uprising.
The trust's production, 'Chiwele', a theatrical piece celebrating Botswana's rich storytelling traditions, has been selected to be showcased at the festival. This is a significant milestone for the organisation, which aims to create opportunities for children to explore their artistic abilities in a safe and supportive environment.
'The festival embodies our core belief that children's creativity knows no borders and that young performers from Botswana deserve recognition and opportunities to engage with international arts communities,' said Children Botswana Arts Trust director and founder, Kealeboga Mosekiemang.
She said the festival will provide a platform for children from different organizations to participate and gain valuable experience performing in front of a larger audience. The children will also have the opportunity to watch international acts and network with young artists from diverse cultural backgrounds.
'We hope that by attending this festival, the children will gain international exposure, performance experience, and networking opportunities,' she said.
The trust's mission is to preserve and promote Botswana's cultural heritage locally and internationally, while embracing contemporary artistic expressions through theatre. Mosekiemang added that the organization believes that the arts are fundamental to child development and cultural continuity.
She further explains that the Cradle of Creativity Festival is organised by ASSITEJ International, and Children Botswana Arts Trust is one of the invited organizations to showcase their production.
'We are still looking for organizations to partner with us to support the children and help us grow our center,' she said. 'We would love for other organizations to support us in our quest to improve the livelihoods of the children in our communities and give them hope that they can sustain themselves within the creative industry,' she added.
The community can support the festival and Children Botswana Arts Trust's initiatives by offering donations and sponsorships. The organisation can be reached through its social media pages on Facebook and TikTok.
'Encourage your child's creative interests without imposing your own expectations or limiting them to 'practical' careers,' she advised. 'Provide exposure to diverse art forms to help children discover their passions.'
The festival is expected to promote Botswana's cultural heritage and creative industries, and the organization hopes to host similar festivals in Botswana in the future.