20 Feb 2017

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama wowed polka music fanatics with his dance moves during the annual polka music festival in Tsabong on Saturday.

The patron of polka music, President Khama added a bit of spice to the event and suprised many as he danced to Mlesho’s Tlhomela.

The polka festival has experienced growth over the last three years attracting large crowds from around the country.

Today, different music groups have now shown interest in polka music, as it is evidenced by mushrooming of polka groups in different places.

Speaking during the event, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Culture and Sports Development, Thapelo Olopeng said his ministry was doing all it can to ensure that music contributed significantly to job creation.

He pointed out that it was for that reason that they had taken a deliberate decision to promote performing arts so that groups could now form companies, which could create jobs.

The minister encouraged groups that graced the event to ensure that they record their music.

By so doing, he said they would be able to sell their product and make a living.

He said the ministry had decided to sponsor eight groups, which would emerge victorious in this year’s Presidential competitions to compile and cut a dvd.

Minister Olopeng further urged the artistes to show commitment and professionalism in their work as that would ensure success even on the international stage.

The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Frans van der Westhuizen, who is also Kgalagadi South MP applauded President Khama for ensuring that he revived polka music, which originated in the Bokspits, Rappelspan, Vaalhoek and Struizendam (BORAVAST) area.

This year, the festival was mainly polka groups from Kgalagadi as a whole with only one invited group, Modipane Primary School. Maghebula and Mlesho also entertained the attendees. BOPA