As it is a norm, many people mostly families, friends and couples thronged the National Stadium to witness the beauty of local talent from different local creatives, such as the Botswana Police Band, the Botswana Prisons Band and the Botswana Defence Force band. The night vigil is meant to usher in the country’s independence. This year, Botswana celebrated its 58th Independence since gaining independence in 1966 from its coloniser, Britain. The Independence Eve Retreat ceremony was paving the way for the main celebrations the next morning. The event could have not been complete without the presence of President Mokgweetsi Masisi, the First Lady and the Vice President and his wife together with the ministers. Performances commenced right after the National Anthem that was led by the Botswana Prisons Service Band.
An Ensemble consisting of different local traditional dance and song groups that won this year’s National Art Festival treated the audience to a beautiful artistic and cultural performance. They presented different local dance and song genres such as phathise, tsutsube, polka, Sebirwa and dikhwaere. Amidst the performances, there were performances of boys and girls who wore white garments with feathers imitating angels and flapping their wings as they ran around the playground. They sang different popular Setswana songs. Amongst them was Mpolele Re Babedi singer Annah Fiki whose presence surprised and fascinated the audience as they sang along. The Tinto family (wife and husband) also gave the audience a refreshing performance. When the man recited a poem appreciating the beauty of Botswana, Setswana culture and the President’s contribution in developing the country, the wife beautifully ululated. As they finished their performance, the Ensemble jumped up and down with different colourful umbrellas. The other part that the public loved was the performance by the Botswana Police Service Band.
They dedicated their show to the country’s Olympic champion, Letsile Tebogo. Tebogo became the first male winner of the Jesse Owens Rising Star Award at the Wanda Diamond League recently. Their parade displayed a symbol of his medal written number one in the middle. The band further sang Dr Vom’s, Tsaya Thobane, normally sung during football games and other national celebrations. The Botswana Prisons Service Band did not want to be left behind as they also displayed a breathtaking performance. Their drill was a display of love and they even made a heart shape when the lady singer sang a Canadian singer Celine Dione’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ as the public lit their phones flashlights, waving them making the atmosphere feel intimate as the lights were also dimmed. The band played songs such as Vee Mampeezy and MmaAusi’s Dipoo a di bope, Fake Love by Dr Tawanda and many other songs as they exited the playgrounds still drilling while about six young dancers unleashed their talent. For their part, Botswana Defence Force (BDF) gave a retreat performance showcasing the first BDF before the country gained its independence, their old khakhi uniform and the present BDF.
Their uniform drill fascinated the audience who cheered in excitement. Amid the performance, the clearly excited audience started standing and shouting in happiness in a waveform from one stand to the next. The wave-like cheer took about three to four rounds and it motivated the BDF band that was on the ground to also give their best performance. The reflecting lights they wore coloured green, red and blue made the whole scenario more attractive when the lights went off. The last part of the event that was a thrill to everyone was the fireworks that took about 20 minutes. As usual, the organisers never disappoint when it comes to that part. That ensured bringing forth different types and sizes of fireworks as people took pictures and videos as they closed the night’s show.
