Maitisong Festival to warm up Easter Holidays
Staff Writer | Thursday March 23, 2017 16:17
With a varied and exciting lineup of events, the festival will once again bring brilliant homebrewed and international shows to provide an unforgettable experience for the audience.
There will be free and paid events to ensure that everyone gets a piece of the action. The 2017 theme, ‘Enrich’, extends from 2016’s ‘Engage’ and 2015’s ‘Elevate’. All the themes reflect the need to professionalise the arts by pushing the envelope and the bar higher each year, and ensuring that professionals work together with audiences and sponsors to upgrade their game.
This was achieved through exceptional performances presented by local and international artists to raving reviews. The 2017 theme seeks to encourage artists to earn a decent living out of their talent, as is the case in other countries where the arts enrich the talent.
This year, Maitisong is proudly celebrating three decades of arts promotion, raising the professional bar in the creative industry, making careers and connecting Batswana artists with their international counterparts. The arts continue to play a pivotal role in advancing peace and stability, while contributing to the socio-political and economic discourse through artworks of integrity.
Artists from far flung countries and those from nearby ones will join this 10-day fest. The Festival Opening Night will be graced by international band Kgalagadi Soul. Botswana’s beloved four-string guitar master behind famous tunes Robete and Tha Kokome, Sereetsi makes up one third of Sereetsi and the Natives band. He performs alongside Aus Tebza (SA) and Mumba Yachie (ZM) on April 4 at 7:30pm at Maitisong. Admission is P200, which includes refreshments.
Hailing from Limpopo province in South Africa, Generations actor Moses D. Rasekele is bringing a double bill to the Maitisong Festival. The two-theatrical performances called Nasty Burn and 2-Late promise to be nothing but the best.
For laughs, Soweto Comedy Festival battles it out with Botswana’s funniest. Chris Mapane and Tumi Stopnonsons are back again to face off with Botswana’s rising, comedy star Bambino, the legendary MOD, Rib Cracker, and the new funny kid-on-the-block, Johnny.
They will tickle the funny bone on April 7 at 7:30pm for admission of P150. Mandy Promotions brings back A Day Before Execution while The Company@Maitisong extends Barclays’ Madi Majwana to those who missed the recent launch and tour. At the Stanbic Bank Piazza, people should expect Socca Moruakgomo’s acclaimed musical Moratiwa and the internationally renowned, one-man show from Cape Town titled, Pay for the Curry on April 11.
Avani Hotel & Casino will host the third annual Fashion Without Borders on April 6 and 7. In addition to screenings, readings and workshops, lovers of spoken word will be treated to a Poetry Slam and an Acoustic Café at Dros, featuring the best of local poetry.
The flagship Old Naledi Outdoor Music Show promises to be bigger and better. Supported by the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture annually, this concert will come at a later stage and will extend beyond Gaborone this time around.
This is but a sneak preview of the many activities that the festival will offer. Sponsors and partners include radio partner Gabz FM, and venue partners Stanbic Bank Piazza and Dros at Molapo Crossing and Thapong Visual Arts Centre. As always the shows will take place at multiple places in Gaborone including at locations by venue partners. Maru-a-Pula School and Maitisong remain the home of the festival and will host the opening and closing nights.