Mister Gaborone pageant approaches
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Wednesday March 29, 2017 14:48
Mister Gaborone Grand Finale will be held at the Three Dikgosi Monument on Saturday at 6pm. This event is set to give its winners an opportunity to bring a positive change amongst the community.
The pageantry director, Oratile Phofhedi told the media that the pageant started as a concept of bringing young talented Batswana men together.
Phofhedi said the pageantry will bring a positive change to the community more especially in the male domain. He said since they were also focused on health, women will also benefit from the pageantry if their partners adhere to their advises to take their health serious.
“We decided to make it a more community based project. We are endorsed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness through the department of Safe Male Circumcision. We know that talk is cheap so we decided to work with SMC. We partner with them in all their campaigns. During our promotional activities we will call them to teach men about health issues so this is a win-win situation,” he said.
Phofhedi said they have also decided to align themselves with heritage. He said the director of Mister Heritage International, Culvin Maunga, agreed with them to take Mister Gaborone king to their pageant that will be held this year. However, he pointed out that the date and venue is yet to be announced.
“We are proud of our heritage. We want to take it internationally so that it can be recorgnised beyond our boarders,” he said.
He added that they were communicating with Men and Boys Gender Equality who will help them empower Batswana men on different issues affecting men and raise awareness on gender based violence. He added that they were building a profile where they wanted their winner to have a significant role to play in the community.
He also pointed out that Mister Gaborone aimed at changing the local pageantry industry face as some pageants directors had tarnished it. He explained that they want to bring a positive image to the local pageantry as sponsors and Batswana at large had lost faith in them.
“When we approached Khanyi Mbau about our pageant and its intensions she was sold. She agreed to come over during the grand finale and support us. A famous fashion columnist Gilmore Tee has also shown interest in our show,” he said confidently.
Phofhedi said he had decided to use local artists at the pageant in the likes of Koola, George Staggz, a dancer called Phantom and a live rhumba group called Mademo and Bilima Stars. Charity Koobokile will be hosting the show. He said they will invite different dignitaries such as dikgosi, the Mayor of Gaborone Kagiso Thutlwe, MPs and others.
Giving his testimony, one of the contestants, Cavin Molatedi said the pageant has boosted his self-esteem. He added that Mister Gaborone taught him persistence and determination.
“I have grown as a young person. I am my own person. I have been able to face modeling agencies and sell myself as a brand. I go after what I believe in,” he said.
For his part, Ramonyai Ramonyai said his purpose was to empower young people. He said the pageant helped him to come up with constructive ways to eradicate poverty.
“I believe in Setswana saying that motho ke motho ka batho. This pageant is a good platform for me to give back to the community. It is a privilege to be part of this pageant and I can’t wait for the grand finale because I believe I am my own competition. This does not mean that I undermine my fellow contestants as they all have their special skills,” he said.
Tickets sell for P200 silver, P400 gold ticket that includes complimentary drinks and finger food and P750 for Kings and Queens tickets that include finger foods, complimentary drinks and a bottle of expensive wine.
They can be purchased at Botswood Office in Thapong Visual Arts, Café Partial, Westgate, Kgale and Molapo Liquoramas.