Franco takes Soul Fill Up festival to Francistown
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday May 18, 2026 06:00
Franco Lesokwane, the legendary kwasa kwasa musician and the man behind the event, said the move was inspired by the overwhelming response from music lovers during the previous edition.
He described it as the most successful after the inaugural edition.
In an interview, Franco explained that the growth of the festival over the years has encouraged organisers to explore opportunities beyond the capital city.
“The previous edition was a success and it proved that the festival has grown over the years. It was the most successful since the first edition.
“We feel it is only fair to give the Ghetto people a chance to be part of this event. If it succeeds, we will see if we host many shows that side in the coming years,” he said.
Popularly referred to as Ghetto, Botswana’s second city, Francistown, has over the years lost ground as one of the country’s strongest entertainment markets.
Franco added that taking the festival there is part of efforts to give supporters outside Gaborone an opportunity to experience the event.
The Soul Fill Up with Franco festival, conceived just before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, was created to celebrate Franco’s musical journey and contribution to the local entertainment industry.
Since its launch, the event has grown into one of the country’s notable music festivals, attracting fans from different parts of Botswana.
Despite the growth, Franco said local music festivals continue to face financial challenges due to limited corporate sponsorship.
He explained that although festivals contribute significantly to the economy through tourism, hospitality and job creation, organisers still struggle to attract long-term investment from the corporate sector.
“Music festivals have a lot of potential when it comes to value addition in the economy, but sponsorship remains a challenge,” he said.
“We have managed to sustain the event regardless of those challenges and we hope more companies can come on board to support us.”
Franco has already confirmed some of the artists expected to perform at the Francistown gig. They include D.M. Guys, Danny Bass Crew as well as Madala vs Kelly Jass. More artists are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
The veteran musician is expected to headline the event with his band, Afro Musica, performing some of the songs that have made him one of Botswana’s most celebrated artists.
Franco said they anticipate a strong turnout as preparations for the festival gather momentum ahead of the June showcase.