Peering into 2010 arts

GASEBALWE SERETSE
Staff Writer | Friday January 8, 2010 00:00

There are indications that this will be a great year as it has been predicted that the economic downturn, which negatively impacted the arts last year, will be over in the first quarter of 2010.  Another cherry on the top is that Botswana's neighbour, South Africa will be hosting the FIFA World Cup this year and the influx of tourists into the sub-continent might help boost the industry. Some of the events and activities to look out for include the following:

Heritage Day Awards
Some of the events that are celebrated on Heritage Day Awards, which happen around President's Day holidays include, National Art Exhibition, National Basket and Craft Exhibition and Contemporary and the Contemporary Music Competition.

The National Art Exhibition attracts visual artists from different persuasions and it arguably draws more entries than any other visual arts competition since it is open to every artist.

The same applies to the National Basket and Craft Exhibition the largest basket and craft exhibition. This prestigious competition draws entries from diverse regions of this country including Okavango and Chobe where most masters of basketry are based. The Contemporary Music Competition is important to lovers of music. This competition has got a number of categories and every year, both established and up and coming artists battle it out to win top positions. Interestingly, winning artists in the Heritage Day Awards are awarded handsomely at an award ceremony graced by President Ian Khama.

Thapong Artist of the Year Award
Ever since this award was inducted under the Thapong Visual Arts Centre it has been successfully hosted every year. Thapong head Reginald Bakwena and his team have worked hard to improve the awards in that last year they embarked on a tour that sought to promote them. This meant that the award attracted more entries and according to the judges in the last contest, the quality of the works presented was quite impressive. Last year the top award went to Uhuru Kgope.

BOMU Awards
After a number of snags in 2008, the Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) awards were successfully staged last year. Hopefully, Socca Moruakgomo and his team will repeat the feat this year by giving musicians the recognition that they deserve. Mascom Botswana should also be commended for sticking by the awards despite the irregularities and infightings threatening to overshadow the awards over the years.

There is no doubt that BOMU needs to have clearly defined categories to avoid any confusion. There will be no harm in awarding the artists some monetary prizes either.

Orange Botswerere Botswana Artists Awards
Elsewhere in Mmegi, this writer referred to these awards as the 'mother of all awards' in the country, which has now turned into a regrettable comment since Orange Botswana and the Department of Culture and Youth failed to host these awards last year. Orange Botswana cited among other hurdles, the economic recession. Surprisingly, the same company hosted Jamaican-born artist Shaggy in a concert that attracted lots of revellers. There is no doubt that Shaggy was paid tens of thousands of Pulas if not millions to come and perform. Surely that money could have been used to host the awards that recognised local artists in a number of categories including music, dance, visual arts, photography, film and video and creative writing. Perhaps Orange Botswana needs to review their priorities. However if they do happen, and this is a big if, the Botswerere Awards would be something to light up the Arts calendar.

Kuru San Dance Festival
This annual San Dance Festival has seen lovers of San dance converging on a farm near the village of D'kar every year to witness the world famous dances and games performed by the San peoples from Botswana and neighbouring countries.

This festival attracts people from all over the world and it is one of the few truly international festivals in the country. Sadly, this grand event was not hosted at D'kar last year due to financial constraints and also due to the fact that the arena where it is hosted is being renovated.  Will Kuru return to D'kar this year?

The organisers of the festival also need to sort out their differences with the San so that Kuru San Dance Festival succeeds this year.

Letlhafula Festival
Hosted by Botswanacraft, this festival showcases Setswana culture and it is one of the leading cultural events in the country. This is another festival that has been successfully hosted annually for a number of years and it has attracted people from all over the world.At the festival, visitors get to see different Tswana cuisines, traditional attires and groups performing. It is one of the most popular festival in the calendar.

Domboshaba Festival
Domboshaba is a cultural festival that celebrates the Kalanga culture. It is held annually and one of its principal supporters is Kalanga jazz artist Ndingo Johwa. Domboshaba keeps on growing annually as people from other ethnic backgrounds begin to appreciate it.

Bessie Head Literary Awards
These are the most important awards for writers perhaps the most neglected area of the artistic pursuits in the country. The awards are organised by the Bessie Head Heritage Trust and supported by a local publishing house, Pentagon Publishers. It is safe to assume that these awards are kept alive by the determination of some of the leading authors in the country and Pentagon otherwise they would have died a natural death.

Despite appeals by authors to the Botswana government to empower the literary arts, the latter has decided to turn a deaf ear and one can only hope that some day government will get a wake up call as the country is beginning to produce a number of budding authors.

A number of writing competitions including the British Council/ Alexander McCall-Smith Short Story Writing Competition and the British Council/ Books Botswana Writing Competition were not hosted last year leaving this competition as the sole contest in the literary sector.