On Saturday, this cultural and heritage event as it a norm attracted a number of people from different parts of Botswana and internationally at Molepolole Sports Complex.

The annual event’s 14th edition celebrated the culture of Bakwena’s rich culture and heritage. The event reminded both the old and the young about the customs and culture of Bakwena.

As usual, Bakwena celebrated their culture through the thanks giving ceremony called Dikgafela. They demonstrated the long abandoned traditional harvest festival that meant to appease the heavens to liberate the rains. During dikgafela, elderly women from different wards in Molepolole carried pots of harvest and the traditional beer on their heads for banna ba lekgotla to drink. Elderly men shouting the phrase “dikgafela tseo” led each group of women from different wards, the women then WRRN WKH KDUYHVW WR WKH .JRWOD DQG ÀQDOO\ WRRN it to Mohumagadi wa Bakwena, Mma-Tumagole.

After long speeches from different dignitaries who applauded Bakwena for a good gesture by hosting Dithubaruba as a way of preserving Bakwena culture, there were a lot of beautiful entertainment pieces from different local artists, traditional music groups and choirs. Before the main festival, all groups and artistes scheduled

Arrival of Dikgafela to perform on the day did a beautiful parade where each had to showcase their talent.

Bomme Ba Mokwena shared their cultural songs with the audience. A locally known poet

Dipako Sesianyane gave a beautiful piece that praised Bakwena kgosi Kgari III. As that was not enough, the Kunkuru family outdid themselves. They are a family of poets with a wife and mother ululating while her husband and son treated the audience with rich Setswana language poems. People were more mesmerized as to how come the boy their son’s age could recite such a beautiful poem in rich Setswana language.

Dipela Tsaga Kobokwe, Kwena Madiba Traditional Dance Group, Tshetlha Ya Dikgwa and Bana Ba Kwena treated the audience with beautiful traditional dances and songs. Namastap and Francistown Ensemble also outdid themselves. They gave the audience beautiful performances.

Local artists came in prepared and made sure that they give their fans nothing but performances of a lifetime. As it is a norm, the Tsaya Thobane icon Dr Vom’s performances kept the ÀUH EXUQLQJ :KHQ KH HQWHUHG WKH VWDJH WKH whole stadium roared in happiness as many did not waste time but joined him.

Dikakapa who also call themselves Senior Boys had a much welcomed and so missed performance. The team of physically gifted men and women performance was out of this world.

They took the audience back in the memory lane with their songs like Selempu, Mmamarutle and Mmalobeto. The Kulenyane singers Culture Spears also treated their fans with beautiful performances. They sung songs like Borikiriki, Kulanche,

Kuweletsana and others.

A very talented setswana singer Ditiro Leero

sung Ko Gae, Khalelani, Ke Tswa Kgakala Ga Maila. Mmurubele and Mmaratwa also kept the audience ignited with beautiful performance. People’s favorite songstress Mmausi

had to wait in between performances as her die hard fans could not wait to share stage with her. However, she did not despair but ensured that she gave them her best performance. She sung her new song dithubaruba, magadigadi, kgomo and others.

There programme covered different categories such as poetry, polka, hosanna, dikhwaere, healing dance (tsutsube), malweetsa dilepe, setapa and contemporary music. Each artist came in his or her own style. The crowd went KRPH IXOÀOOHG DIWHU D QLJKW RI EHDXWLIXO WUDGLtional song and dance.

Bakwena from different provinces in South Africa and their leaders also graced the event and seemed to enjoy every bit of Setswana music and song. People from different walks of life like the Chinese and others could not stop dancing to Setswana music. People also made sure they dressed up for the day and looked beautiful in their traditional attires.

A number of Bakwena royalties and their delegations from South Africa also graced the event. The dignitaries from South Africa includes Bakwena Ba Mogopa led by kgosi Lekela Mamogale who represented chief kgosikgolo Tebogo Motheo Mamogale, His Majesty kgoshi Kgabo Moloto III of the Nation of Bahlaloga Moletsi and Bakwena ba Baphalane kgosi Jem Ramokoka of Bakwena ba Baphalane.

Local royalties who were present includes kgosi Kebinatshwene Mosielele of Manyana and kgosi Thabo Maruje III of Masunga.