The annual festival which will be held at Ntsweng or Mmakgosi, old Molepolole, on September 2 is a cultural event. It promotes social cohesion amongst Bakwena and the various ethnic groups in the Kweneng District. Furthermore, provides cultural education that reflects the ethnic diversity of the District while providing leisurely activities that can be enjoyed by everyone, including whole family members.
The event which was started in 2007 will be celebrated under the theme, 'Maropeng go a boelwa, go sa boelweng ke maleng', a Setswana proverb meaning that one should never be reluctant to reclaim a glorious past.
Launching the event, Bakwena Kgosi, Kgari III said the theme emphasises the need to get the youth to fully embrace their own culture and emulate only the positive elements of alien cultures as they adapt to a fast-changing world.
Kgosi Kgari III said he was excited that they will finally get to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the event at their ancestral home, which is now a heritage site. After five years of construction, the over P59 million project is almost complete. "Ntsweng will soon boast a state-of-the-art museum with cutting-edge technology and much moreimproved culture preservation systems and processes," he revealed.
The event is expected to attract more people than ever, among them Bakwena in the South African Diaspora such as Bakwena-ba-Baphalane delegation which will be led by Kgosi Ramokoka; Bahlaloga delegation from Limpopo Province that will be led by His Majesty Kgoshi Kgabo Moloto III; and a Bakwena-ba-ga-Mogopa delegation led by Kgosikgolo Mamogale.
Meanwhile, ABSA Life Botswana, the title sponsor has already dispersed P250 000 of the P750 000 which is expected to cover most of the festival costs. Thebe Modikwa, ABSA Life Managing Director said by sponsoring the festival which will be called 'ABSA Dithubaruba Cultural Festival', they are affirming their commitment to the preservation of a rich cultural heritage. "We are ensuring that future generations can trace their stories back to this moment, to these roots and feel a sense of belonging and pride. This resonates with our purpose as a business of empowering Africa's tomorrow, together, one story at a time," he stated.
Since 2008, BTO has been sponsoring the event and helped Dithubaruba get to where it is today. Media sponsors are; The Monitor newspaper and Duma FM. The Monitor, which is the sister publication to Mmegi, will publish articles and flight Festival advertisements about Dithubaruba while Duma FM will run jingles and conduct interviews to publicise the festival.
