09 Jul 2014

The second annual Ghanzi meat festival promises nothing but bigger, better and bold at this year’s second annual festivities.

Slated for July 12-13, Ghanzi meat festival promises spectators a cultural display of the Ghanzi district.

In an interview with the organiser and mastermind behind the concept Greg Losibe said the meat festival is a celebration of Ghanzi district culture.  Ghanzi district is blessed with various ethnic groups such as the Herero, Bakgalagadi and the Naro/Basarwa.

With availability of such groups, Losibe said revelers will be spoiled for choice in terms of entertainment while indulging on several meat dishes.

The popular zoma dance will be showcased at the event by the Tsabana group.

Losibe explained that these are the composers of the zoma dance, and said with this display everyone especially the visiting spectators will feel the Ghanzi flair. The revelers will also get a chance to learn the dance, said Losibe adding that it is a dance not to be missed.

The other group which promises to give revelers their money’s worth is the Omajora Herero group.

He explained that the group performs live with special dance found only in Ghanzi and Namibia.

Losibe further said the traditional song and dance, Matsosadiletseng from Qabo will entertain with their original tsutsube while Selonyana the former member of Culture Spears traditional group will also give spectators her gyrating moves from her Culture Spears days.

There will also be Dj Sly from RB2 and La Timmy as special guests.

He stated that as organisers of the event, they will wrap it on Sunday with a ‘chill jazz session where RB2 will be broadcasting live.’

The Sunday event dubbed ‘Letswainyana Swaar’, Losibe said will give local disc jockeys an opportunity to showcase their skills and talents.

He also added that Dj Duece who is known for oldies music will be playing at the Sunday session.

Besides the entertainment, Losibe said the event is meant also to showcase how things are done culturally in Ghanzi.
he day’s activities, he said will start off with farming activities competitions, stating skills normally practiced at the farms.

He said the participants will register to compete on skinning (go buwa), dislocation of joints (go lokolola), scrubbing of a hove (go karapa), target shooting and making fire.

Thereafter, he noted revelers will be treated to the various Ghanzi meats.

He said revelers will be introduced to different rich unique recipes and meat processing methods; these are braai, biltong, pounded dry meat, seswaa, boerwoors, fried meat, kebabs and stew.

Ghanzi meat festival is held at the same time with the annual Ghanzi agricultural show.

While some perceive the meat festival as sabotage to the show, Losibe has dismissed such utterances.

“The meat festival is not sabotaging the Ghanzi agriculture show.

The event piggy bag on it and gives continuity in terms of entertainment.

The show is famous for attracting people from all over the country.

These are commercial farmers, breeders, farming admirers, aspiring farmers and meat producers.

These are our target audience besides Ghanzi residents,” explained Losibe.

Meanwhile the Vice Chairperson of the Ghanzi agriculture show, Shane Kebadile disagreed with what the meat festival organisers suggest. He noted that the meat festival is ‘confusing our clientele as well as sponsors.’

He said the two find themselves submitting proposals to sponsors at the same time and most of the time to the same sponsors.

This, Kebadile said brings confusion as sponsors often think the two are one and the same thing. He also noted that the confusion comes during the advertising of the events.

He stated that the meat festival organisers wait on the dates of the Ghanzi show and then use that to lure in audience which is initially meant for the agriculture show.

Therefore, he said there is need to engage both stakeholders to discuss ways in which to separate the two events in terms of months and dates, to avoid confusion. Nevertheless, he noted that the festival in a way complements the night life of Ghanzi during the show.

But, also he said as the organisers of the Ghanzi show they also have an annual gala dinner which corporates and government departments attend.And, he said because of the festival, such audience normally find themselves in conflict of the two.

But, Losibe is adamant that meat festival is a complement to the Ghanzi show.

He said the festival has potential to boost tourism in the region.

The introduction of activities, he said is an initiative to involve the community, create competitiveness and attract more visitors.

He said the idea is to promote farming activities and finally register them as indigenous sports and eventually enhance them as indigenous sport and art.

He noted that they plan to introduce two activities each year at the festival.


Losibe has urged and encouraged local communities to identify their indigenous pride in order to sell Botswana to the world ENDS