Bosele dramatists steal the show

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Tuesday September 28, 2010 00:00

 

This was the third lap of the competitions, which were initiated by President Ian Khama this year.  The competition drew the winners from each of the five Gaborone South wards in all the three categories.   Actually this competition starts at ward level nationwide.  The ward champions then proceed to the constituency competition.  The participating groups in the Gaborone South constituency showdown were Rutang Setshaba, Botlhale, All Stars and Bosele.  The choirs were made up of Diele, Dinare, Silence, Sghwabo and Babusi. 

Traditional dancing troupes included Digwana, Mafitlhakgosi and Bana Ba Setso.   Babusi ward's drama group, Bosele, scooped the first prize in the drama category while All Stars were the runners-up.  Botlhale occupied the third position followed by Rutang Setshaba in fourth place.  The drama performances, which kicked off the show, were also captivating.

In the choir category, talented Babusi Choir also came out tops with Sghwabo as runners-up while Silence choir occupied position three.  Dinare took the fourth position.  Competition was also tight in the choir category. 

As for traditional dance, Naledi North group and Bana Ba Setso, were declared the winners while their runners-up were Mafitlhakgosi.  Mafitlhakgosi, which performed several times, became a hit with members of the audience chiefly because their male dancers were simply explosive on stage.

Digwana took the third position.The winners in each category will get P5,000 while the runners up will be consoled with P3,000.  The winners in the ward level get P3,000 and their runners-up P1,000. 

During the Saturday show, there were some breathtaking performances in all the categories. 

The choirs were in their elements too, belting out songs that carried seminal ideas and important social messages.  Some of the messages were lamentations on society's moral decay.  Department of Arts and Culture's constituency officer for Gaborone South, Thapo Mothusi said the competitions, which were introduced in January, have been immensely popular with the communities.  The competitions are held thrice a year.  The Saturday show closed the chapter in Gaborone South for this year.   

Mothusi said since they started the competitions, the response has been positive.  'People really enjoy these competitions.  Even parents are supportive,' he said. 

He revealed that they are assisted by the Ward Development Committees (VDCs) to organise the competitions. The Saturday event, for instance, was organised in conjunction with the Bontleng Ward Development Committee.  Mothusi said they also involved councillors and community members to organise the competition. 

He hailed the behaviour of people, who attend the competitions, and the participating groups themselves.  He said their behaviour was in line with one of the objectives of the competitions, to mould the youth.  The principal aim of the competitions, is to keep the youth away from the streets and mischief.  He feels that the competitions are achieving this purpose.   He said the competitions target young people.  To him, this is one way to keep young people preoccupied instead of having them 'chilling out in the pubs'. 

During the competitions, the organisers do not encourage people to drink at the event.  They want to demonstrate to the youth that they can have a good time even without alcohol, he added.  Mothusi also said they encourage the winning groups to use part of the prize money to dress their members. 

He said the groups could also use the money to establish their own income-generating projects.  He noted that when the competition started some of the groups did not have full uniforms but now things have changed.  He added that this time around, the groups were well presented and everyone was in their Sunday best.   Mothusi pointed out that one thing good about the performances is that the groups are passionate.'They really love what they are doing,' he said.