06 Jan 2016

It is a norm that when Christmas day comes, people depart from cities and towns where they earn a living and travel to their home villages to celebrate the special day with their families and loved ones.

It is this time of the year that villages are abuzz, lively and hectic as people move around to check on each other and celebrate Christmas together.

It is in this regard that the youth from Pitsane in the Good Hope – Mabule constituency who go by the name Ngwao Morolong Association took advantage of people who were gathered at the village to organise a food festival as a way of gathering villagers together.

The Ngwao Morolong food festival and cultural day which was preceeded by a beauty pageant on Christmas eve was in its inaugural and proved to have potential to live up to its expectation.

Though not well attended and disturbed by some rain showers and storms on Christmas day, they day which was meant to have traditional food sold, a donation to the needy families and a clash of choirs did not come out the way it was planned.

Though graced by the Kgosi and the Village Development Committee who had prepared traditional meal for sale, they youth of the village let alone all other villagers did not attend the occasion.

Only a few people attended the occasion and bought traditional food in the likes of samp, tripe,  and kabu which were on sale.

In an interview, the organiser of the show Edwin Mothofela said, though the inaugural Ngwao Morolong food festival is not successful, he hopes to hold it again in the coming year and work on marketing and advertising it.

Mothofela said the concept of the event was meant to celebrate Morolong culture , taking advantage of the multitudes who would have thronged the village during the festive season.

He said the intention is to exhibit cultural artefacts, have a short session where Barolong youth are taught by the village elders and led by the Kgosi, some Barolong culture and history.

He said the day is also meant to have a clash of two choral choirs to liven up the event and celebrate Christmas.

The day, he said is also meant to show the spirit of compassion, as Christmas is a time of giving, to donate clothes to the less privileged children in the village.

He said, though not well attended, he was hopeful that next year people will be informed and updated on time with a lot of organisation put in place to make the event a success.

For his part, Kgosi Funi Kepadisa hailed the organiser of the event, who are especially youth, saying they had a good concept in gathering people to celebrate Morolong culture.

Kgosi Kepadisa said with support from the village leadership and the villagers at large, the event could  be a success, as it has good intentions of gathering Pitsane villagers, especially those residing outside the village.

He said he also likes the idea that the event is held at a village ‘mogobe’, a place he said has a significant role in the village set up.

He however questioned the holding of the event on Christmas day saying, it could be the reason it was not well attended.

He said a lot of people who come to the village over the festive season and especially on Christmas day, prefer to sit at home, prepare a Christmas lunch as a family,enjoy the meal and have a restful day together.

He therefore said he will talk to the organisers of the event to find a suitable date for the occasion to serve its rightful purpose and find ways of encouraging people to attend the event. Ends