Kgosi Sechele Museum Hosts Successful Festival

MAUREEN ODUBENG
Staff Writer | Monday September 29, 2008 00:00

The annual festival, termed Dithubaruba Cultural Festival, attracted a fairly good crowd and saw a number of performances, ranging from poetry, traditional dance to drama.

First to take centre-stage, after arrival from the publicity walk from Molepolole main Kgotla to the venue, was poet Kaone Stopper' Mahuma. From the outset Mahuma's attire made a strong statement that whatever he was going to dish out to the audience was going to be nothing but the best.

Clad in beautiful and carefully knitted traditional attire, it was clear he had prepared himself for whatever he was going to share with the audience that included Bakwena Paramount Chief Kgari Sechele III. Once he got started, beautiful poetic words came flowing from his mouth, like a true traditional poet forcing everyone to listen to each and every stanza. Mahuma had everyone eating from the palm of his hand with his ability to play around with words, supporting his poem with body movements that kept the audience's eyes fixed on him. His poem was not only beautiful, but loaded with words of encouragement for Bakwena.

Not to only take pride in their culture and heritage, but to also use the very heritage to help diversify Botswanas economy. It was a theme that was touched on by almost every speaker at the event.

The poem had words of encouragement for Bakwena to preserve their culture and take pride in owning their cultural heritage. Mahumo was accompanied on stage by another young man who thrilled many with his ululating capabilities in an area previously known to be a woman's domain. To someone not watching the show, his resonating voice could have been mistaken for that of a female poet.

That, of course, was not the only interesting thing about him, for he was clad in women's traditional clothing and made all the delicate movements that women usually do when ululating.

The performances in the morning were part of the entertainment, and came in-between speeches by invited guests. The next poet, Thabo Botlele, also did his part, reciting an ode to a number of Bakwena icons.

Re Setso Traditional group had the crowd cheering at their every move. At some point some members of the audience could be heard saying 'I wish I could dance that way'. The group of young men and women gave an excellent show, performing a variety of traditional dances, including the popular phathisi and tsutsube dances. Molepolole's popular folk singer, Malefo Mokha, popularly known as Stampore, was also there.

He did what he does best, playing and singing a popular Christian song Sebakanyana. A drama group called 'Tshupo ya Ngwao' also took centrestage and gave the audience a good 30-minute drama. The group had a play centred on encouraging the revival of culture and heritage, using Botswana Television (Btv)'s Sedibeng as a transmitting vehicle in their drama.

The play had a gentleman posing as a presenter, and another as the expert who gave a detailed analysis on culture and heritage issues. Another highlight of the festival was a performance by a group of elderly women called Matsosa Ngwao. The women were clad in uniform, with small blankets hung over their shoulders, which is common in most Setswana cultures. The group gave one song, which was well-received by the audience.

There were a number of other performers who also did a splendid job. The event had a number of speakers, who spoke passionately about the revival of culture and heritage, and the need to use culture as a tool for economic diversification. Speakers included Paramount Chief Kgosi Kgari Sechele III, a representative from the Department of Culture and Youth, Dineo Phuti, Chairman of Kgosi Sechele I Museum, Basiamang Garebakwena, and Bakwena Deputy Chief Keineetse Sebele.

Renowned poet and writer, Barolong Seboni, for Petlo Literary Arts, donated a number of books to the museum in memory of his late granduncle, Professor Ontefetse Martinez Seboni, who was a highly revered member of the Bakwena community.