02 Aug 2015

The Kuru Dance Festival is back thanks to Barclays Bank’s P369 000 sponsorship boost.

The festival, which is in its 17th year, is billed for the Dqae Qare Farm, a Basarwa owned game farm operated by the Kuru D’kar Trust between D’kar and Ghanzi.

The festival is expected to draw dance groups from Basarwa settlements in Ghanzi District, Kgalagadi, Okavango as well as San groups from neighbouring Namibia in a two-day cultural extravaganza.

All roads lead to Kgalagadi on August 28-29 as cultural enthusiasts indulge in the San dance, song and festivity that the fiesta brings.

Speaking at the event launch recently, Kuru Dance Festival patron, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe said it was a pleasure to be associated with the festival because it was good initiative that aims to revive culture.

He stated that cultural activities should be promoted to the younger generation so that the children were educated in the process.

Dr Kedikilwe noted that  culture is diverse which he said makes the country proud as every culture is celebrated.

He said events such as the Kuru Dance Festival offer opportunities to the community as it is used as an income generator during the days of the festival.

Kuru Development Trust chairperson Arone Johannes stated that they have invited 15 groups from across the country who will be participating at the festival.

The chairperson concurred that the festival is meant to spread and preserve the San culture so that future generations find it.

“Culture is our legacy and we should not let it disappear because Kuru Dance Festival is what we identify ourselves with.”

He stated that the festival is not a competition but a cultural exposé where people get to experience and mingle with each other.

Barclays Bank Botswana managing director (MD), Reinette van der Merwe said their support will assist thefestival to become the best in Southern Africa.

She stated that her bank realises that dance is a culture for the San people hence wanted to be associated with an event that is embraced by people in the Kgalagadi area.She said there are opportunities that accrue from the event which would offer habitants of that area to cash from it.

Tickets are sold at Maitisong festival in Gaborone P100 elders and P50 children. Ends