Mmegi

Botswana hosts second JAAM FEST

Hosting JAAM FEST in Botswana also tells a broader story
Hosting JAAM FEST in Botswana also tells a broader story

On August 9, 2025, Gaborone, Botswana will host the second edition of the Jive Africa Annual Music Festival (JAAM FEST). I co-founded the festival alongside local artists Chedza Pansiri, Kabo Leburu, Oliver the Poet, Solly Sebotso, and Jay-Jay Musi.

From the outset, our goal was simple yet ambitious: to create a space where African creatives can grow, share their work, and thrive—without feeling compelled to seek validation or opportunities abroad.

We launched JAAM FEST in 2024 with a modest budget of P12,000. Despite limited resources, the festival came to life through inspiring performances by the Royal Jazz Band, the gifted visually impaired Zimbabwean keyboardist Musi, and celebrated Botswana artists including Sebotso, Gaolaolwe (known as Oliver the Poet), and Leburu.

Editor's Comment
Child protection needs more than prevailing laws

The rise in defilement and missing persons cases, particularly over the recent festive period, points not merely to a failure of policing, but to a profound and widespread societal crisis. Whilst the Police chief’s plea is rightly directed at parents, the root of this emergency runs deeper, demanding a collective response from every corner of our community. Marathe’s observations paint a picture of neglect with children left alone for...

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