Maitisong Festival is here
Spira Tlhankane | Wednesday March 16, 2016 14:52
It will be the 29th installment of the arts festival held under the theme ‘engage’.
Maitisong Festival 2016 will be held at various venues in Gaborone such as Old Naledi, Maruapula and Thapong Visual Arts.
Briefing the media yesterday, the director of Maitisong, Gao Lemmenyane, said this year they would host artists from South Africa, Namibia and USA.
“It is an opportunity for local artists to network and sell themselves to internationally,” he said.
Lemmenyane said on April 14, Maitisong Festival will host a greet-and-meet session where artists will interact with show directors and promoters from outside.
He told some of the artists to have their production ready.
Lemmenyane said in this year’s festival there would be many workshops lined up.
Elena Andreotti of the US Embassy in Gaborone said the embassy commissioned Mophato Dance Theatre (MDT) to work on a dance that would celebrate Botswana’s 50 years of independence and incorporate the American government’s contribution to the growth of the arts.
She said the US Embassy would sponsor spoken word events such as poetry slam and live panel discussions with P80 000. A New York City based poet, Miles Hodges will join locals for the poetry slam.
Andreotti said the US government was proud to provide a mutual understanding between local and American artists so that they could understand one another.
The dance show will be held at Maruapula on April 14 and it will also feature Oyo Dance Troupe from Namibia.
The founder of MDT Andrew Kola said they were happy with the commission provided by the U.S Embassy.
It shows we are going somewhere and we will work hard to make everyone proud,” he said.Kola said it was the first time Mophato was commissioned to work on a show, and use this opportunity to work at their own pace.
Festivities include the Old Naledi Outdoor Music Festival which will be the focal event branded around BOTS50.