Organisers of Poetavango Festival keen to avoid another 'bikini' embarrassment
Boniface Keakabetse | Friday October 25, 2013 16:16
To prevent a repeat of last year’s incident when local poet, Berry Heart appeared on stage in a red bikini and declared her love for President Ian Khama in her performance, the organisers have organised a dress rehearsal. The eccentric attire and poem received a lot of publicity even internationally.
It divided opinion in Botswana with some saying the poet’s content and stage attire bordered on pornography. One of the organisers of the show, Legodile Seganabeng has said that this year, all poets taking part in the main act will be subjected to screening in a rehearsal. He said that art is divisive by nature and what is deemed offensive by some people may be viewed differently by others. Hence trying to set standards for the artists is difficult but at the same time, there has to be monitoring to ensure the festival conforms to the accepted societal ethics.
The festival is organised annually by the Maun-based Poetavango Poetry Association to promote spoken word poetry in Botswana. It strives to become one of the must-see events in Botswana’s annual arts calendar. This year, the Department of Arts and Culture has donated P200,000 to sponsor the festival. The department sponsored the first and second festivals with P50,000 but due to the show’s growth, it decided to boost the kitty for the 2013 edition.
Among those expected to showcase their talent include South Africa’s Masoja Msize, Zwesh Fi Kush and Mercy Nomkhubulwane.
Fans will be treated to the soulful poetry of Miss Charity of Zimbabwe and her countryman, Outspoken. From Zambia, there will be Ludo Lukwele and Trudon Shinkombewe while Lesotho will be represented by Refiloe and Lyrical Bacteria. For the first time, the festival will be attended by a poet from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Toto Mubenga.
Some of the locals expected to perform at the show are Poko ya Setso from Francistown, TJ Dema, Berry Heart, Moreri Moroka, Dreadx, Messenger and Tautona.
Speaking during a press briefing, Seganabeng, the Poetavango founding chairman said that this year, they decided to host a week-long session of poetry to bring diversity. In the two previous festivals, there were only two shows, the schools session and the main event.
However, this year, there are many activities taking place over a week starting from 26 October to 2 November.
The programme starts with the interschool poetry slam, followed by a book exhibition for Batswana and international writers. Seganabeng said the exhibition is meant to expose the works of local writers’ and to inculcate a reading culture in the country. One of the highlights of the event will be a jazz and poetry night on 30 October featuring a band from the United States. There will be poetry performances by disadvantaged artists, a writers’ workshop and book reading sessions.