Speaking at the last press briefing ahead of Saturday’s event, Kgosi Mookodi expressed gratitude for the community’s support and the partnership of Bathoen II Trust, noting that the festival’s impact extends beyond celebration.
“We are here to lay a foundation. We welcome you all to Kanye. Bangwaketse are known to be rich in culture, and we must ensure that it is well protected. Show the whole country the beauty of Kanye,” he said. Bathoen II Trust secretary, Taolo Mogobe, revealed that this year’s theme, ‘Ngwao Lore Seikokotlelo’, maintains the long-standing tradition of celebrating identity and unity through culture. “Our mandate is to find Ngwaketse values aligning with the theme; hence, this year we decided to showcase the Ngwaketse traditional wedding. This year, Seikokotlelo focuses on what to expect from a Ngwaketse wedding,’’ he noted. A major highlight of the festival will be the Ngwaketse traditional wedding showcase, featuring four wards working together to present the wedding. There will be Kgomo ya perepetsha, Kgomo ya mohlakanela, Nku ya mokwele, to mention a few of the activities carried out during the wedding. Mogobe added that the wedding will be complemented by a speech from Kgosi Malope II, poetry recitals, and cultural performances. “Preparations are going well as we speak,’’ he confirmed. Festival chairperson, Prince Chibana, noted that while last year’s event had free entry, this year a small fee has been introduced to ensure sustainability. “Last year, the event was free, but we found it fit not to solely rely on sponsors; thus, we have an entrance fee. Debswana sponsored us with P70,000. Some of the money was used for branding of T-shirts and payment of artists performing on the day. This year, tickets will cost P150 at the gate, P100 normal ticket,” he explained. Ramantele, one of the cultural advisors in Kanye, emphasised the importance of respecting traditional protocols during the event. “Some taboos will not be showcased, such as sacred parts carried out during the wedding will not be broadcast,” he said. As the date draws near, organisers have called on Batswana to turn up in large numbers to celebrate Ngwaketse heritage.
