Son of the soil ignites cultural fever
Spira Tlhankane | Tuesday January 12, 2016 10:44
This year’s Son of the Soil event will take place at Serokolwane Lawns on the outskirts of Gaborone on January 30. Now in its 12th year, Son of the Soil would be held under the theme ‘Kwa re go yang’ and sub-theme ‘Motswana’.
While the workshop will be held a week before the event, Son of the Soil will officially start on January 29 with the Motswaiso session where patrons will get a chance to sit by the fire and enjoy the best of traditional games and mainane (storytelling).
Speaking to Showbiz, one the event organizers, Pontsho Pusoetsile said the main event on Saturday would be a fun filled occasion with traditional games, songs and dance.
“It’s a whole day event, starting from around 10am and everyone will have an interaction and some will get a chance to learn some traditional games,” he said.
Pusoetsile said they have introduced a kiddie’s corner where children would play modern traditional games common in the streets. In the afternoon, there will be more interaction as people compete in various games.
He said the theme is in line with what they want to achieve in the next 10 years.
“This year Botswana is celebrating 50 years and as Son of the Soil, we intend to reflect on our culture, where we come from and where we are going,” he said.
Pusoetsile indicated that they want globalise Setswana culture.
“Fashion trends are changing and we don’t want our culture to become extinct in years to come,” he highlighted.
Pusoetsile said after getting involved in activities of the day, there would be dikwaere later in the afternoon where the north of Dibete will compete against south of Dibete.
Traditional food will be served, and it will include menoto, melala, mmidi, magwinya. At lunch, the traditional cuisine will be bogobe, dinawa, morogo and seswaa, setampa. On Sunday, a Setswana Jazz festival featuring only local artists will wrap up the event.
Pusoetsile said they have not announced the line-up yet because they want people to enjoy the cultural festivities rather than coming to see certain musicians.
The ticket for the jazz festival will be sold separately at P100. Tickets for the Friday and Saturday show are P250 (adults) while children from 5 - 12 years old will pay P100 to get in. There is no charge for children under 5 years old.