26 Mar 2017

The Serowe- based traditional group Ngwao le Metlha is preparing for the upcoming regional competitions slated for May.
With the President’s Day Competitions approaching, the group is determined to redeem their pride and feature as they did not qualify in 2016.
In an interview, the group’s spokesperson, Nametsegang Balone also one of the co-founders said the main objective of the group was to teach and maintain Tswana culture through Setapa dance.
Tracing back their steps, Balone said the group was originally founded in the early 90s by Bethuel Ramphethu under the name Moyagoleele and was made up of Serowe- born youth based in the village.
He stated that due to work and other commitments members relocated to other places, resulting in the group disbanding in 1998, only to regroup in 2008 and took part in President’scompetitions for the first time under the new name, Ngwao le Metlha ya Moyagoleele and came fifth in Setapa dance category.
However, the group took another break, only to emerge in 2012 and entered for the President’s Day Competitions and obtained position three.
“Since then we have been competing yearly in regional competitions, obtaining position two in 2013 and took that a as a sign that we can reach the top and we did in 2014 when we got first position and qualified for the nationals. We maintained the same feat in 2015 but missed out in 2016 as we did not qualify for the nationals, having been second at regional level. So, this year we are gearing for a comeback,” he added.
Balone said the group had support from community members including the VDC and the Cooperative Society.
The group he said had helped keep the youth busy and out of the streets
Besides entertaining and preserving culture, Balone said they helped in community outreach programmes saying in 2015, ACHAP engaged them in the Safe Male Circumcision campaign to educate members of the community on its importance.
The group was involved during the Bamangwato Cultural Dinner Festival in 2015 sponsored by the then Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture. ENDS