Bakgatla to celebrate culture
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Friday July 6, 2018 12:51
The young Thokozile Ratsatsi, who has resurrected Kgatleng recreational life will be hosting Masa Cultural Festival where a number of residents are expected to partake in this auspicious event. Its intension is to exchange culture between Bakgatla and people from different walks of lives.
Ratsatsi who is also known as DJ Thoko, told Arts & Culture that the event will give both the old and the young a chance to interact and spend quality time together under one roof. The festival will be held on July 28, 2018 at Masa Gardens in Rasesa.
He said the event would be filled with Setswana games such as koi, mhele, diketo, morabaraba and others. There will also be entertainment from Kgatleng’s renowned traditional choirs. These groups are expected to keep revellers on their feet with rich Setswana dikhwaere. The choirs include Kgatleng giant choirs such as London, Badiragatsi and others that will be battling it out for the title of Best Choir in the region.
“We will also have entertainment such as dance and song, poetry by different local poets, traditional dance and so many more. People are advised to wear their traditional attires such as mateisi, African print and others to complement the event. There will also be Setswana food stalls where the revellers can buy and enjoy Setswana foods such as bogebe jwa lerotse, morogo wa dinawa, dikgobe, letshotlho, seswaa, mokwejepe and others,” he said. There will also be horse-riding and storytelling.
He added that the event would allow anyone from different cultural backgrounds, race and or religion to enjoy Setswana culture and allow for cultural exchange. He said the event’s main objective is to also bring unity amongst people of different walks of live giving them a place to enjoy each others’ company without feeling excluded or discriminated against.
“My intension as the organiser of this event is to see Batswana artists and vendors benefiting from this cultural festival that is why we have not invited any artist from outside the catchment of this country. I therefore urge artists to use this platform to market themselves,” he said.
The event will start at 10am till late. The entrance fee is P60 for adults and P20 for children. The public is advised to use traditional cups such as dibekere and calabashes for drinks at the event.