The Nkashi: Race for the Okavango, which premiered in Gaborone Thursday night, was produced by the National Geographic Society (NGS) and De Beers, through the Okavango Eternal partnership.
The feature documentary created in Botswana, in Setswana, celebrates the people of Botswana, their cultural heritage and traditional knowledge and their commitment to preserving the Okavango Delta and its headwaters through the story of the Nkashi Classic Race.
Speaking during the premiere, Masisi said the documentary signals the beginning of efforts to conserve the country’s beautiful natural landscape. He also said the documentary and all the work that is going on behind the scenes through the Okavango Eternal, provide vital steps towards sharing the importance of the work that is being done to protect the Delta, giving a glimpse into its beauty and the resilience as well as ingenuity of its people. He added that the film is another way of celebrating the country’s cultural heritage.
“Our conservation work must be in spirit with how we want to drive the development agenda. This means we need to be inclusive; we must preserve and celebrate our traditions and the interventions be taken with those that know our country and environment best,” Masisi said. Moreover, he said through the documentary, the world would appreciate the country's unique culture and how we co-exist with our environment. Still on the documentary, Jill Tiefenthaler, Chief Executive Officer of the National Geographic Society said they are working to ensure a brighter, healthier future for our planet and its people. She said the film was created by the Impact Story Lab, an award-winning, creative unit within NGS, in close collaboration with Batswana filmmakers and local production company, Parable Motion.
For his part, De Beers CEO, Al Cook said they are deeply committed to helping protect the Okavango Basin – one of the most critical conservation efforts in Africa.
He said De Beers has been a partner of Botswana people for more than 50 years, as such they are grateful to partner National Geographic to highlight the importance of the Okavango Delta and the essential work of the communities who preserve it. The documentary explores the lives of three mokoro polers, Gobonamang 'GB' Kgetho, Tjadza 'Pretty' Tapologo, Nkeletsang 'Ralf' Moshupa competing in the annual Nkashi Classic. It also features tracks by local musician, Thato Kavinja otherwise known as Mr Seronga.
