09 Oct 2014

Organisers of the annual Maun festival are optimistic that this year’s event will be bigger than the previous ones following their decision to rebrand it.

For the past three years, the event was dubbed Poetavango Spoken Word Poetry, but it would now be known as Maun International Arts Festival. The Maun International Arts Festival slated for October 25 - November 1 will feature various activities taking place in the tourism town of Maun.

Poets from all over the country and international artists from Zimbabwe, United States of America, Canada, Lesotho, Malaysia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Belgium would grace the event.

The event is sponsored by the department of Arts and Culture at P250 000. Other sponsors include Maun Lodge, Rileys Hotel, American Embassy, Wimpy and Botswana Tourism Organisation, Wired Productions, Grafi Xtreme and Okavango Artists Association.

In an interview, the event manager, Thato Molosi said the event will be the first of its kind as they have incorporated other elements such as music, book exhibition, comedy, dance and visual arts.

Molosi said the main objective of the event is to promote arts and culture, particularly in Botswana and Africa. He also noted that they want people to appreciate that art can diversify the economy hence the need to support and develop it.

He also revealed that locals will be given an opportunity to show case their talent during a folk night of traditional instruments such as Segaba; Setinkane, dance and traditional poetry.

Molosi said students from junior and secondary schools will able to be compete in story writing about the uniqueness of the Okavango River Basin or anything interesting about the Okavango Delta or issues of concern in the area.

Tickets are available for sale at Wimpy, Maun Lodge and Cresta Riley’s Hotel and prices range between P20 and P200. Ends