As it is a norm, many people mostly families, friends and couples thronged the National Stadium to witness the beauty of local talent from different local creatives, such as the Botswana Police Band, the Botswana Prisons Band and the Botswana Defence Force band. The night vigil is meant to usher in the country’s independence. This year, Botswana celebrated its 58th Independence since gaining independence in 1966 from its coloniser, Britain. The Independence Eve Retreat ceremony was paving the way for the main celebrations the next morning. The event could have not been complete without the presence of President Mokgweetsi Masisi, the First Lady and the Vice President and his wife together with the ministers. Performances commenced right after the National Anthem that was led by the Botswana Prisons Service Band.
An Ensemble consisting of different local traditional dance and song groups that won this year’s National Art Festival treated the audience to a beautiful artistic and cultural performance. They presented different local dance and song genres such as phathise, tsutsube, polka, Sebirwa and dikhwaere. Amidst the performances, there were performances of boys and girls who wore white garments with feathers imitating angels and flapping their wings as they ran around the playground. They sang different popular Setswana songs. Amongst them was Mpolele Re Babedi singer Annah Fiki whose presence surprised and fascinated the audience as they sang along. The Tinto family (wife and husband) also gave the audience a refreshing performance. When the man recited a poem appreciating the beauty of Botswana, Setswana culture and the President’s contribution in developing the country, the wife beautifully ululated. As they finished their performance, the Ensemble jumped up and down with different colourful umbrellas. The other part that the public loved was the performance by the Botswana Police Service Band.
