This includes one of the most loved Traditional Dance and Song category that celebrates different local traditional dance and song. On Saturday, different traditional dance and song groups from different dance categories such as Diware, Seperu sa Chobe, Seperu sa Okavango, Sebirwa, Hosanna, Tsutsube, Setapa and Phathisi contested for this year’s championship under their categories whilst others competed to keep their championship. The competition was held under the theme, ‘The Creative Economy: Botswana’s Economic Future Redefined’. For a few groups, it was their first time battling out for the championship at the national level whilst a number of groups were no strangers on the big stage. There were familiar groups who had been partaking in the competition for years and they were still competing for the P50,000 for position one. Position two walked away with P42, 000 position three P38, 000 and position four walked away with P33, 000.
The results per category were as follows, Diware; Mayapero from Etsha 9 are this year’s champions, Mwayiyovora from Shakawe scooped position two, Mwathiya Thicho Cultural Group from Kasane position three and Kamberera from Etsha 8 position four. For Seperu (Chobe); Chaako Nchaako Seperu are this year’s champions while Kavimba Seperu Group scooped position two, Itenge Cultural Group position three and Nandavwe Seperu Group position four. On the Seperu (Okavango) category; Shigyakao from Gumare scooped position one, Mavuashire from Ikoga position two, Nyinamwere from Jao Flats position three and Tiwazani from Gumare position four. For the Sebirwa category; Sebonda Arts Group from Bobonong scooped position one, Tsa Kalawa Cultural Group from Bobonong position two, Baga Mmanaana Traditional Group from Thamaga position three and Dipitse Dia Raga Cultural group from Motlhabeng position four.
For Hosana category; Matlhogoputswa from Gaborone are this year’s champions while Tlhako Ya Pitse from Ramokgwebana scooped position two, Tse Ditona Tsa Kalawa from Francistown position three and Mabutswapele from Gaborone position four. On the Tsutsube category; Setsuatsue from Maun got the first position while Nca’ancaase Traditional Group from New Xanagas position two, Matsubatsube Traditional Group from Khwee position three and Sedimo Sa Koma from Gaborone position four. In the Setapa category; Khuduthamaga Dance Troupe from Tlokweng got position one while Matsosa Ngwao Dance Group from Kasane position two, Ishiqwaqwa from Hukuntsi position three and Makgasa Traditional Group from Serowe position four. On the Phathisi category; Kala tsa Kgale from Selebi-Phikwe scooped position one, Kwena Tsa Madiba from Molepolole got position two, Ba Ja Khudu from Gantsi position three and Barata Pina from Maun position four. For his part, the chief adjudicator, Jimson Richards, said even though most groups showed immense talent when it comes to dance, most of them added a lot of creativity to the dance therefore diluting the originality of local traditional dance. He added that most of them did not adhere to the theme and also said their songs were not audible.
He told groups to do away with last-minute rehearsals saying they took away their voices and therefore made it hard for the judges and audience to hear them. Richard also said when it came to acting, most of the dancers seemed to have low self-esteem. He added that some even bumped into each other during their performances. He also applauded them for adhering to relevant attires. When addressing the audience, the Minister of Youth, Gender, Sports and Culture (MYSC), Tumiso Rakgare, said the government is committed to the development of the creative and cultural sector, which had a high potential for creating jobs, both formal and informal. He added that the world over, resolved to assess and determine the true value of the creative sector in the economy and sustainable development. Rakgare also explained that the sector was among the most dynamic sectors, providing opportunities particularly for developing countries to emerge into high growth areas in order to support and attract investment, entrepreneurship and innovation, thus promoting cultural diversity and well-being.
He said the creative economy was on the world economic and development agenda; giving focus on trade in creative goods, and services and the protection of intellectual property. “The creative economy revolves around the interplay between human creative ideas, technology, especially in the creative industries in their different forms and appreciating their commercial and cultural value. It is time to promote inter trade of our products and services; which in turn will earn us digital payments. We need to promote vibrant creative and cultural industries; as they provide greater opportunities for creators, and entrepreneurs, riding on the rich and diverse cultural heritage of our country. We should register our talents and intellectual property and enforce copyrights to combat piracy,” he stated. Furthermore, he explained that with the government initiative of the Sport and Creative Strategy, the government desired to develop a framework to effectively define and measure both sport and the creative and cultural industries. He said the strategy would also help develop and design effective policies in the creative and cultural industries. He also said the Presidential Directive on Procurement of Arts and Crafts by Government Departments and Private Sector of 2008 has been a blessing to artists in general. He explained that the directive stipulated that government institutions, private sector, institutions and individuals should buy local arts and crafts for the purpose of heritage collection and decorating their buildings as well as homes. In addition, he said this year, the prize money for the NAF had been increased, adding that those were endeavours by the government to support the creative sector and turn it into a sustainable one.
