Bangwaketse Heritage Day charity festival underway

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Thursday December 9, 2010 00:00

Institutions like the Bathoen Museum bear testimony to this.  It was a morafe initiative meant to keep the legacy of the tribe's respected former leader, Bathoen Gaseitsiwe, alive as well as its heritage.

A younger generation of Bangwaketse is currently working on other initiatives to help their fellow tribesmen and women make more sense of their origins and culture.  On December 18, Bangwaketse Heritage Day Charity Festival gets underway at Marapalalo Hall, which is located at the heart of the tribe's capital, Kanye.

According to one of the organisers, Osenotse Mabote, the heritage day is, among other things, aimed at promoting the Bangwaketse culture, sharing information about the history of the tribe, its origins and conservation of its culture.

'We want to celebrate our culture as Bangwaketse and try to find out who we are and honor our traditional leaders and show appreciation for what they have done to get us where we are today. 

There will be teachings of Ngwaketse customs and traditions by the elderly who have a better understanding of our culture, to a younger generation,' Mabote said.  According to Mabote, it is hoped that through such an event tourism will get a new boost because presentations will be made about the various heritage sites in the area. 

Business people trading in traditional items have been invited to network.

Mabote noted that they had engaged stakeholders like Bathoen Museum, the Bangwaketse tribal authorities and the council to ensure that the day is well supported by everyone.

There will be theatre performances by various groups such as Kanye Performing Arts, Ketsobotswa Theatre Productions, Raluka Theatre Productions and Ikakanyeng Theatre Group as well as poetry by various individuals.

Ditiro Leero, Kgokgonono, Dipina tsa Thapelo, Dikgagaripa, Suffocate and Black Raw Streets, among others, will be there too. Two live bands, Helicopter Band and Ocean Blues, will also perform at the event.