Bakwena Celebrate Another Successful Dithubaruba Fest

Spira Tlhankane | Monday September 9, 2019 12:01

The annual Dithubaruba Festival held under the theme Ngwao ya rona Letlotlo (our culture our treasure) was a success and attracked other tribes such as Bakwena baga Mogopa from South Africa and Bahlaloga nation from Limpopo. PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE

The event which is a nation building model was held under the theme ngwao ya rona Letlotlo (our culture our treasure) and it attracted other tribes such as Bakwena baga Mogopa from South Africa and Bahlaloga nation from Limpopo. Among some of the most interesting events was the dikgafela ceremony.

Bakwena elderly women lead by Rabojalwa delivered the harvest to the kgotla first before they eventually gave it to Bawena royal queen Mma Tumagole. After delivering the harvest the same routine was done with Setswana traditional beer (bojalwa ba Setswana). Other dikgosi (chiefs) and dikgosana were at the Kgotla alongside Bakwena paramount chief Kgosi Kgari III. Afterwards the public was then given a chance to feast on the traditional beer.

Later on men at the kgotla began the mokoto ceremony while women ate ngati on the other side. Besides activities that cultivated Bakwena culture, there were performances, which also showcased the culture of the tribe. To showcase borankana ba Sekwena a group called Bana Kwena delivered a wonderful performance as they proved to everyone why Bakwena is one of the best tribes when it comes to phathisi dance.

Dipela tsa Kobokwe, which won the President’s day competition numerous times over the years also serenaded the crowd with their amazing phathisi dances.

Other groups from outside the country such as dikgwari traditional dance group, Mauba and Thotwane Traditional Dance from South Africa also showed the Dithubaruba fans what they are capable of. With their rhythmic drums, the dancers look happy as they performed at the event for the first time ever.

In the contemporary music category Mmurubele was among the groups that rocked the crowd. Other groups such as Sesigo traditional dance group and Gatalatau displayed the healing dance. In the traditional instruments category, Sebokila Kgaila was there to please his fans with the four strings guitar. Batladira Radipitse was also among the performing artists.

President Mokgweetsi Masisi was the keynote speaker at the event and he affirmed that government would continue to support cultural festivals and creative industries around the country to unlock their economic value.

Masisi said cultural celebrations offer nations an opportunity to reflect and introspect on what they have become. He said part of his role is to unify the nation and his success will reflect on all tribes including Bakwena. “Government has contributed 30 million Pula to develop Ntsweng Heritage site to be a state of the art cultural precinct.

It is expected to be completed by 2021 and will provide a conducive environment for hosting of the festival and other community events,” he said.

Masisi encouraged organizers of the Dithubaruba cultural festival to use Information Communication Technology to market and grow the festivals for people in the Diasporas to know about the festival and attend it in the future.

Masisi also urged Bakwena to tap into opportunities provided by the festival such as selling of traditional handcrafts, provision of accommodation and other services.