15 Sep 2015

Local culinary art fanatics will put their cooking, food preparation and food presentation skills on display on November 28 at the Serowe Food Festival.

The much anticipated food festival will be officially launched in Serowe with the aim of delivering a superlative food festival that not only nurtures business activity, but also showcases the diversity of Botswana’s cultural foods as well as that of other nations hosted by Botswana.

The festival scheduled to take place at the Serowe Stadium, was sparked by a need to see business activity in Serowe and the Central District thrive.

In an interview, Vincent Monnawakgang, a culinary consultant for Fyne Productions Company, which is putting together the event with the support of the Serowe District Administration, said the festival will help Serowe and the surrounding area’s social, cultural and economic growth

“Most events and activities are concentrated in large towns and cities. With this event, we saw the need to promote activities outside cities and the festival is answering that call and will celebrate the differences that we have as a people and the similarities that we embody as human beings of the global village,” he said.

He said the food festival will have an assortment of traditional, contemporary and foreign cuisine available for sale to the attendees.

Also, he said they will provide a stage for SMMEs in the food and catering industry to showcase their products, adding that they will have business workshops prior to the festival with exhibitors. 

The workshops intend to enlighten the SMMEs on issues of marketing and exhibiting. He said food, meat and drinks of all types will be available. Participating embassies, he said will bring a global element to the festival that may grow interest in tourists from all over the world.

Traditional cuisine of all cultures in Botswana, he said will be available from different exhibitors though participating Embassies and High Commissions.

“We hope to have Tswii from Maun and we are currently looking for an entrepreneur in the food business who can offer Tswii at the festival.”

Decorative foods will also be on display for those in the food and catering businesses. Also, he said the festival will have farmers’ and kiddies categories. Already, he said stalls were being sold and reserved under the following categories foods, agriculture, services, kiddies, entertainment and beverages.          

Their goal, he said is to bring Botswana communities together to appreciate and support budding businesses through the sharing of food, drink and delight in music. 

That mission, he noted could only be achieved by nurturing innovation, entrepreneurship, accessibility to markets, diversity and cultural wealth.

“With Botswana’s latest ranking of the second African country on entrepreneurship, we find that Serowe Food Festival is the platform needed to promote local entrepreneurs, especially those in the field of tourism,” he said.

Through the festival, he said they also intend to promote local artistes through giving them the opportunity to perform throughout the day.

“Our plan is for them to have the exposure to share the stage with international and established Botswana artistes.”

He said a selection of Serowe based artistes would be performing at the event. He further stated that the festival would enhance Serowe and Central district’s cultural activities and encourage tourism  related activities, with the hope of providing a platform for small business owners and exposure to the wider Botswana market. Ends