In an interview with the event’s founder and patron Tshegofatso Powane, she said the Madikwe Cultural Festival’s purpose was to showcase Setswana culture through performing arts, traditional edutainment games, artifacts and food.
She explained that the event has now filled in the gap left by the defunct Orange Letlhafula, which offered patrons a cultural experience through tasting of the Setswana cuisine, playing Setswana games and having performances by local artists inspire the event. “Activities include mhele, morabaraba, koi, dibeke and batho safe. We will be tasting different dishes from our Setswana cuisine like: bogobe ba lerotse, letlhodi, kabu, morogo wa dinawa, mosutlhane just to name a few,” she explained.
Renowned dikhwaere singer, Dr Vom will once again headline the event alongside Culture Spears. Dr Vom is expected to serenade patrons with his Dikhwaere music, including Thobane, a timeless tune, which has dominated local festivals for close to two decades now. Other artists confirmed to perform during the festival are Double Up, Dilomakwati, Matlotla, Moologa, Suapan, KGBW, Mmaratwa and Oliver the Poet. "We also have Seann Laacostaq and DJ Batsy as our DJs for the night. Our MCs include news anchor, producer and former presenter of Radio Botswana Masa-A-Sele, Boemo Dibeela-Nyadza and Mc Banks from Mochudi," she added.
Furthermore, she explained that their prayer and dream was to have that event annually. She, however, pointed that their biggest challenge was lack of sponsors hence making it difficult for them to meet their expectations. She added that being self sponsoring for events of such magnitude drained them financially but because of the love and passion for it, they kept on going and trust in God for a successful event. The invited dignitaries in the likes of Kgosi Bana Sekai, Minister of Trade and Industry Mmusi Kgafela and Ass Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Mabuse Pule who is also the Member of Parliament for Mochudi East.
Tickets sales are ongoing at Webtickets (Spar and Choppies) countrywide and in Dinokeng villages at Mmabatho Bar, Salt ‘n Pepper and Powane Butchery. Entrance fee is P200 adults and P100 kids. The event starts at 10am until late. The tickets included free food from 12 noon to 2pm and Bojalwa jwa Setswana.
