19 Aug 2015

Poetavango Spoken Word Poetry a non-profit making organisation based in Maun has revealed that multitudes of performers, film makers, writers and artists have registered to participate in the Maun International Arts Festival.

This follows a call they issued to performing poets, film makers and artist in Botswana and across the world to apply for participation in this year’s event. 

This year’s festival, which will be held in Maun in October, will be spread across a week of poetry, slam poetry, traditional poetry, music, theatre, comedy, fashion show, short film, literature and the visual arts. 

Published writers resident in Botswana will also have an opportunity to take part in the literary aspect of the festival. 

They will take part in events that include a book exhibition at Nhabe Museum, book readings and a writer’s workshop to be held at Maun Lodge. 

Legodile Seganabeng, the chairperson of Poetavango Spoken Word Poetry, said the event was meant to promote the arts, fashion, literacy, theatre, poetry and merging tourism with arts by hosting it in the tourist town of Maun.

“This year’s festival will be longer and broader with increased aims and objectives. It will be an all encompassing arts festival and will run for a week. 

The main purpose of the festival is to promote the art of spoken and written poetry and word as well as the arts in general. 

We also want to grow Botswana literature and the culture of reading and writing,” he said. 

He said the event, which started as a small Maun-based poetry event, is expanding to include more of the arts including dance, fashion, film, comedy and theatre. 

He said the festival has been developed and expanded in many ways.

“Some of the critical objectives of the activity are to promote and market local literature, films, poetry and theatre, encourage and showcase published Batswana writers, film makers and poets as well as create interactive platforms between writers, readers and publishers,” he revealed.

He said the best writes and literacy works would get an award at the closing ceremony.

Since the event will be running for a week, he said there would be different activities taking place every day. 

“We believe that working together we can encourage the culture of reading, motivate writers and develop the writing industry and arts industry in Botswana.” 

Other events during the week include school talks, sessions at the public library, workshops, inter-school poetry slam and motivational talks in local schools. 

He said this year’s festival looks set to be the best. 

“There will also be a cultural night, combined with a night of traditional music and Setswana praise poetry, the climax of the event includes parking lot open street jam poetry, hip-hop dance competition as well as open mike sessions where any member of the public is allowed to register and participate on the spot.”

Last year, it changed its name from Maun Poetry and Literature festival to reflect its growth and diversity.

Gracing the event this year, will be various national and international performers who include, poets, writers and artist who have registered to participate from all over Africa and the world.

The event has been supported by the government through the Department of Arts and Culture, Brand Botswana and the American Embassy. Ends