Dipela-Tsa-Ga-Kobokwe Steal The Show At Batlokwa Cultural Day
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday August 20, 2018 18:00
Popular artists such as Ramunyaku, Nnunu Ramogotsi, Culture Spears, Dr Vom, Dipela tsa Ga Kobokwe and poets Poets Kgosintwa Gaborone and Tshekiso Ramonk provided entertainment during the annual event celebrated on the third week of August, which coincides with Kgosi Puso Gaborone’s installation as well as the royal wedding anniversary.
The event started with the ceremonial arrival of Mohumagadi Thandi Gaborone accompanied by Bomme ba Batlokwa and Masetlheng Choir reciting dikoma tsa bomme paving way for the arrival of Kgosi Gaborone.
However, it was the Molepolole-based traditional Dance troupe Dipela tsa ga Kobokwe who stole the show and added spice to what was turning into a rather dull day because of the low attendance. Known for their dazzling unique phathisi dance routine, Dipela Tsa Ga Kobokwe provided the perfect entertainment for the people who had attended the event.
As they performed, attendants including dignitaries looked in awe and could not get enough of the unique phathisi dance routine as they requested for more. Many started throwing money on stage as a gesture of appreciation and a request for another song before they leave the stage.
The seven-time winners of the President’s competitions and 2014 Meritorious Service Award hyped up the cultural day and performed as if they were in competition to win a huge prize. Their performance was enhanced by use of props, which also portrayed the Setswana culture.
They came on stage carrying yokes on their shoulders to imitate oxen during the ploughing season, while their leader guided the dancers with sjambok.
They also incorporated wooden milking bucket or kgamelo to showcase the milking process
The group had to return for another set on stage at the request of the audience before they could depart to Molepolole by sunset, which showed that the crowd was still yearning for more from them.
Meanwhile, Batlokwa also demonstrated the long abandoned traditional harvest festival called Dikgafela. The festival is meant to appease the heavens to liberate the rains.
Led by a group of poets shouting the phrase dikgafela tseo and taking turns to recite poems, the women took the harvest to the Kgotla where they presented it to Kgosi and Mohumagadi wa Batlokwa.
Elderly men and women gathered at the Kgotla to feast on local traditional brew known as bojalwa ja setso in Setswana.
Kgosi Puso Gaborone said that emphasised the need for Batlokwa history and culture to be protected and preserved, while also celebrating the cultural heritage. He said the celebration is also meant to unite Batlokwa and other tribes in Botswana. The event, which was celebrated under the theme: ‘Ngwao bontle jwa setshaba’ (Culture-Beauty of a nation) was graced by amongst others the CEO of National Development Bank Lorato Morapedi, who was the keynote speaker, Batlokwa from South Africa, and Batlokwa ba ga Malete from Kopong.