It was hosted by renowned Jamaican-born American artist, Yrneh Gabon, in collaboration with a local folklore poet, Moroka Moreri. The event was an infusion of art exhibition and music. Gabon, who is the 2024 US Fulbright Research and Arts Scholar, performed alongside the energetic Mafitlhakgosi Cultural Troupe. His play was inspired by his research at the Okavango Salt Pans and the Okavango Delta.
The performance was done under a white sheet where the main act, Gabon, chanted ‘the earth is crying; people are dying’ a number of times then later talked of ‘fear.’ He talked of how he was afraid of the dark; the night whilst also singing and running under the white sheet they covered themselves with. After the beautiful performance that was also accompanied by songs, Moreri and Gabon had a question and answer session where Moreri asked Gabon about the play for those who could not understand it to get clarity. Even though he asked in Setswana, it was clear that Gabon understood as he answered the questions in English. He said the country possesses rich tourist sites such as the above mentioned that he immediately fell in love with after seeing them. He said the salt was the reason he was in Botswana. He added that the salt, land, the people and nature blew him away. He further explained that even though the salt was a mineral, he used it as a metaphor, looking at the soil, water, irrigation, osmosis and many other aspects of life. He added that he also looked at the social aspect of life, how people lived around those areas and so forth. Gabon is currently hosted by the Okavango Research Institute (ORI) at the University of Botswana in Maun. During his 10-month residency, Gabon has conducted extensive field research across Botswana, focusing particularly on the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and the Okavango Delta ecosystem. His work explores salt as both a metaphor and a mineral, aiming to bridge scientific concepts with artistic expression to make complex information more accessible to the public.
The event, titled, Salted Sermon, featured an art exhibition and performance that reflect current social and ecological issues in the context of climate change. His collaboration with the local poet and educator, Moreri, is meant to craft a programme that resonates with contemporary themes within Botswana’s history and culture. In addition, the programme included contributions from the Poetavango Collective, BOSSDA, the National Museum and Monuments, and works by other local artists highlighting the rich creative landscape of Botswana. Amongst beautiful performances of the day was Juliet Gabriel, a Form Five student at Naledi Senior Secondary School who recited a poem in Kalanga, Setswana and English. Her immense talent and confidence secured her a number of fans that cheered her proudly.
Gabriel is a member of Sekhutlhwana sa Bannyee Radio Programme that encourages children and the youth to speak and know their mother tongue, Setswana. Born and raised in Old Naledi, Hydro Molefe, who is one of Botswana’s talented artists, gave the audience a beautiful performance. Other talents that took part at the event include Misha Chimbambi, Ms Gee, Kopano Itumeleng and Moabi Mogorosi. With his immense talent in reciting poetry and singing, Moreri, who was also the master of ceremony, kept the audience captivated with his jokes, poems and songs he made up there and then.
