16 Oct 2016

The annual Maun International Arts Festival (MIAF) 2016, which brings the crème de la crème of local and international artists will be held in Maun from October 22-30.
The festival is expecting participants from Botswana, Bulgaria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, United States of America, Hungary, Namibia, Kenya, Lesotho, Zambia, Uganda and Ghana, according to a media release.
The release says some planned activities are visual arts, short fiction awards, music workshop, creative generation workshop, war of word poetry and the ceremonial event.
It says MIAF has grown in leaps and bounds over the years having started as Spoken Word Poetry festival.
“2016 is an important year for the festival, as it is for the country. it says. The festival will begin with an interschool poetry competition followed in the evening by the grand opening of the festival.
Other activities, the release states are the Back to Our Roots; a traditional music, dance and praise poetry night that aims to celebrate the cultures and traditions of Botswana.
MIAF also upholds the cultural heritage of the northwest region, therefore participants will grace the Maun kgotla, where they will greet community elders and the village leadership.
“Participants will also get to taste the traditional cuisine and get an appreciation of the local traditions through song, dance and attire.” ENDS