Tsholofelo carnival 2.0 to breathe new life to Zana
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Tuesday August 15, 2023 06:00
The streets of Zana will once again play host to arts, cultural, sport and entrepreneurial development activities, which will act as a significant socio-economic engine to the town which was doomed after the closure of BCL mine.
The five days carnival will create business opportunities for the growth of the formal and informal traders, singers, visual artists, choreographers and others. In his address during the Tsholofelo annual celebrations press conference, Kgosi Molefi Pilane said the carnival will promote culture and diversity and breathe new life to the town.
After BCL closure, he said the celebrations will help them put their past resentments behind them. Meanwhile, Premium Nickel Resources Botswana (PNRB) environmental, social and governance (ESG) vice president, Shamil Agosi said the carnival looks at four thematic areas: entrepreneurship development programme, arts, sports and culture. She further said the carnival is aimed at using the four thematic areas in order to assist in resuscitating the economy of Selebi-Phikwe after the economic meltdown due to the closure of the BCL mine in 2015. Agosi indicated that this year they chose to facelift the town by painting murals around town as a build up to the main event.
“We have partnered with the famous visual artist Wilson Nguni who will be working with local artists to paint murals at identified public spaces around town,” she said. PNRB ESG vice president elaborated that they will share the history and diversity of the town through the murals which in return can attract people to its uniqueness and create a sense of cultural identity.
She also said the murals will make public places more welcoming, vibrant and lovable. She also stated that they are going to train over 150 youth during their entrepreneurship development capacity building workshop. This year the carnival will also recognise the role of social clubs in uniting the community as part of the promotion of sports for development, added Agosi. She also stated that the cultural parade which will be held on Independence Day will promote inclusivity and cultural diversity. The cultural parade will be followed by a music festival which will be headlined by two South African popular musicians Master Kg and Dr Malinga, supported by local acts. She said 98% of the performers will be local as they have been intentional about capacitating local artists.